Dear Friends,
Welcome the special season of celebration, light and transition. Our world is offering us change on many fronts, but what endures are our traditions, our relationships, and the strength of the institutions we have created. Let’s celebrate all that we have and share gratitude for what we have built together. A Museum of courage, joy and wonder.
For the first time since 2019 the Museum’s historic The Ballantine House is decorated in the luxury of a 19-century Christmas. Stop in to experience holiday celebrations in Newark from around the world!
As I look back on 2024, there is so much to be grateful for. At the NMOA, we led groundbreaking work to honor our past and probe our future:
- The Story of Newark Fashion brought the glamour of Versailles to our galleries and celebrated Newark’s Steven Burrows, the local models who changed fashion forever, and our city’s current black designers who are influencing today’s runways.
- Bony Ramirez, who visited the NMOA as a teenager new to this country returned with his first solo exhibition, Cattleya, exploring his Caribbean ancestry and narratives of colonialism and resistance.
- On our sidewalk, we installed NOW, the soaring sculpture by Shahzia Sikander that considers women and the law from a global lens.
- The Rethinking American Art Convening showcased our work to bring curators, artists and communities together to continue to reconsider museum exhibition and relevance.
- We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Newark Black Film Festival, the longest running black film festival in the nation.
Looking forward, as you may have heard, I will step down as Director and CEO of The Newark Museum of Art in May due to family reasons. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, and the incredible team who will carry the Museum forward. It has been a true honor to take part in this work with you.
Over the last six years, we embarked on a bold recommitment to inclusivity and representation, honoring our legacy of redefining the modern museum. A commitment to remaining on the leading edge requires a commitment to change and evolution. Reimagining the Museum with courage, joy and wonder is NMOA’s north star and inspiration for the future. We’re gathering in-person and online to propel bold changes in the world through action and the arts.
As I embark on a new chapter on the West Coast, so will our Museum campus. In 2025, we will begin renovating the Learning and Engagement Art Center in the Museum’s South Wing, creating new spaces for creativity and learning, alongside enhanced accessibility. Additionally, Museum Parc will break ground in early 2025, opening the campus to exciting new possibilities, including residential units, public art and gardens, and a contemporary glass gallery.
At the NMOA we believe that museums are for the many, not the few. And as I look ahead, I see every opportunity to deliver on that belief. Please mark your calendars now for our largest Community Day of the year honoring the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr Day on January 20. Our theme is Stronger Together, because we know that the path forward is a shared one. I look forward to seeing you there.
Thank you for being a part of us!
Cheers to you,
Linda C. Harrison
Director and CEO
The Newark Museum of Art
