News from Cape Ann Museum:

For the past 17 years, Ronda Faloon has been a constant champion for the Cape Ann Museum. During her tenure as Executive Director she has guided us through a period of tremendous growth. She has expanded our facilities, grown our visitation and membership and elevated the role that the Cape Ann Museum plays within our community. She has advanced our mission and made the Cape Ann Museum a truly special place.

When Ronda first announced that she would retire in the spring of 2019, the Board of Directors formed a Search Committee, co-chaired by Board members Henrietta Gates and Suzi Natti. The Board also engaged the services of a nationally recognized firm that specializes in museum related executive searches. The Search Committee was focused on identifying an individual who would understand and appreciate who we are as an organization and would have the ability to guide us through the implementation of our Strategic Plan 2018-2023.

Inquiries and applications were received from all over the country. The Search Committee met and reviewed many candidates who were evaluated based on their ability to serve the needs of the Museum, our membership and our community. 

I am pleased to announce that the search has been successful.

Effective April 1, 2019 Oliver Barker will become Director of the Cape Ann Museum.

Oliver joins us from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where he supervises a portfolio of fundraising and international engagements and is responsible for developing partnerships with foundations, corporations and governments. Prior to joining the MFA, Oliver worked as Curator & Project Director for the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. He began his career as the Director of Education & Visitor Services for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy where he lived for nearly a decade. Oliver holds a master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Management from the University of Melbourne and an Honors Degree in Fine Arts, Painting and Printmaking from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), in Melbourne, Australia.

Oliver has deep family ties in Gloucester* and has been a frequent visitor to the Cape Ann Museum for 20 years. He lives in Wenham with his wife and children.

I am confident that you will enjoy meeting Oliver and getting to know him. He is a thoughtful, respectful and charismatic leader who has the ability and perspective required to guide us through the next chapter of our own story.

Thank you for your continued support of the Museum. I look forward to seeing you at one of the Museum’s many great events this year, including Homer at the Beach: A Marine Painter’s Journey, 1869-1880, opening in August.

Sincere regards,

Charles D. Esdaile

President, Board of Directors

*Lundbergs