Kim Sajet, who stepped down as director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in June, has been announced as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Sajet’s appointment comes after she resigned from the National Portrait Gallery a fortnight after US President Donald Trump said he was firing her.
During her 12-year tenure at the Smithsonian museum in Washington, DC, Sajet expanded the gallery’s reach through innovative exhibitions and public programmes.
Under her leadership, attendance doubled and major capital improvements were made. Also, Sajet raised more than $85 million for the gallery’s operations and endowment.
Sajet said in a statement: “From the first moment that I started talking to the search committee, I was impressed with how passionate everyone was about the museum and how they saw it as a central part of what makes Milwaukee a world-class city.
“The general vibe is entrepreneurial, culturally vibrant, and refreshingly authentic.”
She added, “The museum itself is gorgeous, and I want to invite everyone across the country to see for themselves what a special place this is.”
Kim Sajet to lead Milwaukee museum
Before joining the National Portrait Gallery, Sajet served as president and CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, vice president and deputy director at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and director of corporate relations at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
She has also directed two museums in Victoria, Australia, and has close ties to museums in the Netherlands.
Andy Nunemaker, the Milwaukee Art Museum‘s chairman, said Sajet is “among only a handful of world-class, values-based museum leaders”.
“This moment marks a unique opportunity to bring in a leader who can unlock the museum’s full potential and advance its vision of connecting people with art and with each other, creating experiences that inspire, spark curiosity, and bring joy, while also sharing the museum’s story on the national and international stage,” he added.
“Kim brings with her a passion for making museums educational and meaningful while also ensuring accessibility and fun.”
Sajet begins her new role on 22 September.
Images courtesy of the Milwaukee Art Museum
