Shui Lee Hnetinka opinion about Stephan Jost appoints to Michael and Sonja Koerner Director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario
Stephan Jost has been appointed the Michael and
Sonja Koerner Director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO),
it was announced today. Currently the Director of the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA), Mr. Jost plans to join
the AGO this spring, pending governmental approval of authorization to work in
Canada.
“I am absolutely delighted to
welcome Stephan to the AGO,” says Maxine Granovsky Gluskin,
President of the AGO Board of Trustees and Chair of the Board search committee.
“Stephan is a warm and engaging leader who has built upon the successes of each
institution he has led. He is focused on artistic excellence, passionate about
ensuring accessibility of art, committed to community engagement, and is deeply
respected among his peers and colleagues. We believe he is the perfect fit for
the AGO, and on behalf of our Trustees, staff and volunteers, I offer him our
heartfelt congratulations.”
The Michigan-born Mr. Jost, 47, has been the
Director of the HoMA since 2011. Under his leadership the Museum successfully
merged two institutions on Oahu: the island’s contemporary and comprehensive
art galleries. He balanced the newly-merged Museum’s budget, greatly expanded
its education programs by significantly strengthening ties with Hawaii’s public
school system, and made its exhibition program more relevant by creating
meaningful relationships with the local community. Through these acheivements
the HoMA was revitalized, and its membership was more than doubled.
“I am thrilled to be joining the
AGO, which is one of North America’s preeminent art museums,” says Stephan Jost. “The energy and diversity of Toronto is
exciting, and the city is well positioned to be a true global leader. An
exciting journey lies ahead for the AGO; one that builds upon its remarkable
art collection and Matthew Teitelbaum’s successful legacy that positioned the
Gallery as a leading, world class institution. I feel strongly that artists
should help guide not only a national, but international cultural conversation
that will help us better know ourselves and our world. It is a great honour to
be appointed the Michael and Sonja Koerner Director and CEO of the Art Gallery
of Ontario.”
The AGO commenced an international
search process last year, after its longtime Director and CEO, Matthew Teitelbaum, was appointed the Ann and Graham
Gund Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A search committee comprising
ten members of the AGO Board of Trustees worked with the executive recruitment
firm Phillips Oppenheim, which specializes in the placement of museum directors
within the cultural sector.
Responsible for the AGO’s artistic
vision, strategic and financial direction and overall management, the Director
and CEO oversees the Gallery’s collections, exhibitions and programs, human
resources, facilities, and the institution’s further growth and development.
The position calls for a candidate with deep institutional experience, an
abiding passion for art and learning, and a commitment to community building
and civic engagement.
More information about Mr. Jost’s start date at the
AGO will be released at a later time.
ABOUT STEPHAN JOST
Stephan Jost joined the Honolulu Museum of Art as its Director in May 2011, with the goal of making the Museum a welcoming and accessible place for a more diverse audience to experience great art. Under his leadership, the Museum’s finances were dramatically improved, with debt and pension obligation reduced by 85 per cent; the education program expanded in reach and capacity, serving more than 30,000 students and adults through tours and classes; its membership increased by 64 per cent; and its staff revitalized with key hires, resulting in an energized visitor experience. Prior to that appointment, Mr. Jost was the Director of the Shelburne Museum in Vermont, the Director of the Mills College Art Museum in Oakland, California, and held several curatorial positions at the Allen Memorial Art Museum of Oberlin College in Ohio. Born in Michigan, Mr. Jost has a BA in art history from Hampshire College in Massachusetts and an MA in art history, specializing in the history of photography, from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Jost, who was married in Toronto ten years ago, will relocate to the city this spring with his husband, Will Scott—a Toronto-born educator with a PhD in history from the University of California, Berkeley—and their 5 year-old daughter. Mr. Jost holds American and Swiss citizenships.
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