Goodbyes

Currently, I am on the road, however, when the information that Cummer Museum Director Maarten van de Guchte passed my desk, I thought I'd post it.

From the Cummer: Dr. Maarten van de Guchte has announced his departure after nearly 10 years at the helm of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. “It has been an exciting and successful decade,” said van de Guchte. “The museum has grown in size and visitation has increased dramatically. The Cummer is now by size firmly in the top five art museums in the State of Florida. And it is the second most visited art museum in Florida.”

During van de Guchte’s tenure, the museum increased in size from 68,000 square feet to 102,000 square feet. Through new construction and renovation, the museum added the Thomas H. Jacobsen Gallery of American Art and the Raymond K. and Minerva Mason Gallery. The museum also acquired the adjacent Woman’s Club of Jacksonville as an expansion of its campus and has raised $25 million in capital funds.

Attendance has increased from 90,000 people in 1999 to a peak of 145,000 visitors in 2007. The art collection has enriched with significant artworks such as Gilbert Stuart’s Portrait of George Washington and paintings by Severin Roesen, Frederick Carl Frieseke, Norman Rockwell, Romare Bearden, and Camille Pissarro in addition to Asian works of art. “The Board and the staff have been very active and donors have been very generous. The museum is a better place for it,” said van de Guchte.

Chairman of the Board Edward W. Lane, III praised Maarten van de Guchte’s many contributions to the institution. “He brought an European style to the job. It was a pleasure to work with him. He will be missed,” said Lane.