With our calendars now turned to 2019, we caught up with some Gibbes staff members to ask about their goals for the coming year. Read on to check out what’s on our radar for the year ahead!
Megan Zembower, Program and Tour Coordinator
- Continue to get to know the Gibbes permanent collection better
- Run the bridge run faster than I did last year
- Try some southern staple foods, like oysters, shrimp & grits, gumbo, etc.
Amanda Breen, Assistant Curator
- Learn how to install the vinyl lettering for out exhibition titles in the galleries
- Continue adding objects to the Gibbes Mobile App
- Continue to learn about the permanent collection and practice my tour guide skills!
- Try everything at least once on the menu at The Daily at the Gibbes
Megan Hoffman, Membership and Development Assistant
- Get more members to renew their memberships online through our new email renewal notice system so we can save paper!
- Go on at least one docent or curator-led tour each month to learn as much as I can about the collection and our exhibitions.
Courtney Soler, Director of Finance and Administration
- To continually improve the business model
- Increase earned revenues and find new opportunities to promote the Gibbes Mission
- Share the joy of ART with as many people as possible!
Lasley Steever, Director of Programs and Digital Engagement
- Present a diverse group of artists within our Visiting Artist series and find additional ways to keep the participants engaged with the museum
- Continue to build upon the success of the Distinguished Lecture Series by bringing the most inspiring and engaging speakers to share their passions with Charleston
- Connect with art lovers around the world by increasing engagement through our online efforts
Jen Ross, Director of Development
- To be more intentional in all that I say and do.
- To eat healthier.
- To write more letters.
- To read and to pray more… less technology.
- Less wine, more wine
Zinnia Willits, Director of Collections and Operations
- Continue to brainstorm, plan and implement creative and engaging ways to use our spectacular Collections Storage Center to turn the Museum inside out and build bridges between the art in the galleries and the collection in storage that our staff works hard to preserve and protect
- Actively research, plan, partner and secure funding to make the Museum more accessible to ANY visitor who walks through the door. Continue to work toward interactive displays and programming for visually impaired visitors using the Didu reproduction of Mrs. Robert Gilmor as a starting point; aim to get smaller versions of tactile reproductions into schools.
- Successfully manage my professional commitments as President of the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) and appointed-member of the 2019 National Program Committee for the American Alliance of Museums. Work with my Charleston colleagues to execute the BEST SEMC Annual meeting which will take place right here in the Holy City October 22-23, 2019!
- Eat fewer Tic Tacs and drink less coffee to manage stress (this will be on the resolution list EVERY YEAR) and hit the Easy button every once in a while!
Becca Hiester, Associate Curator of Education
- To create a birthday party packages
- Clean off my desk
- Visit the galleries at least 3 times a week
- Spend more time with each of our amazing Visiting Artists
Erin Banks, Creative Director
- Design more fun photo ops like the Gibbes Angel Wings! Come snap a pic on your next visit and #SoarToTheGibbes with us.
- Rock the museum world with the Southeastern Museum Conference (coming to Charleston on October 21-23, 2019). I recently designed the logo for the 2019 SEMC Conference (shameless plug) and am excited to see all the ways that the Gibbes will help to lead this amazing conference. Megan Hoffman and I will be coordinating the publication design competition this spring, which is a wonderful opportunity to be surrounded by amazing design samples from other museums. Looking forward to being on the “other side” since we’ve participated (and won) several design awards from SEMC in the past, including 2017 Annual Report and Strategic Planning Brochure.
- Design a beautiful catalogue for the Rauschenburg Collection (pinch!) due later this year. Then start working on the design for a book of Japanese Woodblock Prints at the Gibbes Museum of Art (double pinch!)
- Finish illustrating our very first Gibbes children’s book, a museum ABC adventure written by Gibbes board member Cathy Jenrette (stay tuned)!
- Save more trees by sending more eblasts! Fun Fact: Did you know that we sent 205 eblasts in 2018? Let us know if you want to subscribe to our e-newsletters! Also excited to see many of our Gibbes publications online, including our newest addition — the 2018 Annual Report.
Erin Nathanson, Artistic Product Development and Creative Retail Experience Consultant
- To transform the museum store into a unique collecting experience where visitors and locals alike will be introduced to new items sourced from the boldest artists, designers, and makers in the Charleston region. This will include limited edition artworks and functional objects created by the 2019 Visiting Artists!
Katie Borges, Special Events Assistant
- Create fun and exciting packages that can be added on to client’s rental contract to create more memorable experiences at the museum (ex: bachelorette yoga for Gibbes brides, a gift from our museum store to give to all wedding guests, a photo shoot in the museum, etc.)
- Increase amount of corporate rentals
- Have at least one “Gather at the Gibbes” Wednesday evening rental per month
Top photo: A few of the staff members at the Gibbes Museum.
Published January 4, 2019