Preparing for new Miami Art Museum, director Thom Collins fundraises, gets ready to oversee construction and learns city
New Miami Art Museum Director Thom Collins looks to have one of the most exciting and challenging jobs in the art world today.
On one hand, he's head of the largest art institution in a region that is becoming known for its artistic prowess and innovation.
On the other, he's trying to get acclimated to the city, grab the reins of the museum's day-to-day operations and oversee construction and fundraise for the museum's new building in Bicentennial Park.
The museum, he said, has raised $30.9 million of the necessary $48.1 million in private funds and the rest should pour in as the new building takes shape downtown.
The building won't only be a place for art exhibits but somewhere to foster experimentation. It will also serve as place of discourse for countless area subcommittees.
"[Miami] looks like a lot of cities will look in the not-too-distant future," Mr. Collins said. "You have this perfect opportunity to build an art institution, not just a facility but all of its programs, its collections, in a community that demands that we think about what the future of museum practice looks like."
As he envisions the offerings of the new building, he's out rubbing shoulders with the city's many art collectors, enthusiasts and donors, something he called a second full-time job.
"This job is about networking and developing relationships," Mr. Collins said, "and that doesn't happen between 9 and 5. That's when the nuts and bolts work gets done."
Mr. Collins was interviewed in Miami Art Museum by staff writer Zachary S. Fagenson.
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