FROM LOS ANGELES to Boston, Mass., museums have announced new appointments in leadership, curatorial, and other key staff roles in recent months. The following highlights several new hires:
Angela Tate. | Photo by Breanna Biorato, Courtesy Museum of African American History Boston I Nantucket
Angela Tate Named Chief Curator at Boston African American Museum
In Massachusetts, the Museum of African American History Boston | Nantucket (MAAH) appointed Angela Tate chief curator and director of collections, a newly created role. She officially started in September. Previously, Tate was curator of women’s history at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C. (2021-24). Among her projects, she helped organize “Forces for Change: Mary McLeod Bethune and Black Women’s Activism,” which was on view for two years at NMAAHC. She is a Ph.D., candidate in history at Northwestern University. Active since 1963, MAAH is registered with the National Park Service as a Boston African American Historic Site. The museum comprises four properties, African American buildings built between 1774 and 1835: two African Meeting Houses, the Abiel Smith School, and the Seneca Boston-Florence Higginbotham House.
Diana Nawi. | Photo by Sam McGuire
Diana Nawi Joined LACMA as Curator of Contemporary Art
In July, the Los Angeles County Museum of Contemporary Art (LACMA) appointed Diana Nawi curator of contemporary art. The museum told Culture Type the position is part-time while she finishes working on some existing projects and will transition into a full-time role in the new year. Nawi has been a Los Angeles-based independent curator for several years. In 2023, she co-curated Made in L.A., the Hammer Museum biennial, with Pablo José Ramírez, and served as co-artistic director of Prospect.5 (2021-22), the New Orleans triennial, with Naima J. Keith (vice president of education at LACMA). Nawi also curated “Mark Bradford: Los Angeles,” a major exhibition of the renowned artist, at the Long Museum in Shanghai, China (2019). “Adler Guerrier: Conditions and Forms for blck Longevity” was presented at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles (2018). Previously, Nawi was an associate curator at Perez Art Museum Miami, where she organized exhibitions of John Akomfrah and Nari Ward, and co-curated the first U.S. exhibition of Jamaican artist John Dunkley. At LACMA, her first exhibition is a major presentation of Tavares Strachan’s work opening in fall 2025.
Le Monte G. Booker Sr. | Courtesy Newfields
Newfields Welcomed Le Monte Booker as CEO
Newfields is a 152-acre destination for nature and the arts in Indianapolis, Ind. The cultural institution includes gardens and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The Newfields Board of Trustees recently selected Le Monte G. Booker Sr., as president and CEO. The news was announced Aug. 26. He officially assumed the role in October. Booker previously served for a decade as chief financial officer of the Field Museum in Chicago, Ill. (2015-24). In a prior role, he was CFO of Easter Seals for five years. Since 2020, Newfields has been trying to course correct after multiple complaints about racism and toxic work culture related to hiring and staff treatment. In November, Colette Pierce Burnette, the previous CEO of Newfields, left abruptly after a relatively brief 15-month tenure. Newfields Board Chair Darrianne Christian announced Burnette’s “departure” without specifying whether she resigned or was fired. Local organizations protested and demanded her reinstatement. Christian also made a statement about Burnette’s successor. “Mr. Booker possesses the right mindset, temperament, aptitude and leadership skills needed for this role. Mr. Booker stood out not only for meeting all of our initial search criteria, but also for bringing fresh perspectives we hadn’t previously considered to the process.” Christian said. “His extensive museum experience gives him a comprehensive understanding of how institutions like Newfields need to operate to thrive. He has a solid track record of strategically maximizing value for all stakeholders in a thoughtful and inclusive manner.”
Allison F. Avery. | Courtesy Allison Avery
Allison F. Avery is New Chief People Officer at Brooklyn Museum
In July, Allison Avery joined the Brooklyn Museum as chief people officer, a leadership role focused on “shaping the Museum’s workforce, fostering a culture of creativity, excellence, belonging, and connection, and contributing to the institution’s strategic goals and long-term success.” She is the museum’s first chief people officer. The museum announced the appointment on Sept. 5. Avery brings more than 20 years of experience managing people and culture in the healthcare, legal, and media industries, as well as the nonprofit sector. She joined the Brooklyn Museum from SYPartners, a New York-based boutique management consulting firm. Avery spent three years at SYPartners and became Chief People & Flourishing Officer. Previously, Avery was global vice president of Inclusion & Community at Dow Jones (WSJ/Factiva).
Christopher Blay. | Courtesy National Juneteenth Museum
Christopher Blay to Lead Public Programs at Juneteenth Museum
Artist and curator Christopher Blay was appointed director of public programs at the forthcoming National Juneteenth Museum (NJM) in Fort Worth, Texas. Blay joined NJM from the Houston Museum of African American Culture, where he had served as chief curator since 2021. In a prior role, he spent nearly a decade as curator at Tarrant County College, organizing exhibitions for three campus galleries. The mission of the National Juneteenth Museum is to “enrich public understanding of Juneteenth and African American history.” Located in Forth Worth’s Historic Southside neighborhood, the museum is scheduled to open to the public in 2026. CT
BOOKSHELF
“John Dunkley: Neither Day nor Night” documents the exhibition curated by Diana Nawi. “Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living” was published on the occasion the the Hammer Museum biennial Nawi co-curated. Also consider, “Prospect.5 New Orleans: Yesterday we said tomorrow,” documenting another project in Nawi’s portfolio. “Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies” documents the first comprehensive exploration of artist’s practice. On view at the Brooklyn Museum, the exhibition brings broader, long-overdue attention to Elizabeth Catlett’s work. “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” was published to accompany another exhibition organized by The Brooklyn Museum, and currently on view at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Ga.
