backstory50: A NEU Future
In our second to last backstory50 I wanted to focus on our future. I asked our assistant to the director, Melissa Sheinheit, and our head of operations, Jessica Pozzuoli, to offer their thoughts and some context for what we’ve been working on to think forward about the next 50 years. From Melissa and Jess:
The past year has been a joyous occasion for all supporters of the Neuberger Museum of Art. As exhibitions and programming have been crafted around the celebration of the Museum’s 50th anniversary, it has afforded the entire Museum community the opportunity to reflect on how far the Neuberger has come in this time, what we love about it, where we need to continue to learn, grow, and change, and what the next fifty years might bring.
As this anniversary year comes to a close, Museum staff are not simply back to business as usual: work has already begun to implement the Neuberger’s strategic plan, a set of goals and priorities which interrogate our current practices, organize our objectives, and focus our work on what is most important.
Roy R. Neuberger was inspired by art and surrounded himself with works that brought him joy, but he also felt a responsibility to support living artists. That mission translates to all of the work that we do here and in the path we are building forward.
So what’s in store for the next fifty years? The Neuberger will go where our communities take us: where our visitors take us, where our members take us, where the College’s academic community takes us, where our growing collection of art takes us.
We will expand the ways in which the Museum supports and participates in campus life at Purchase College.
We will be thinking more about the work that we can do to uplift our local communities.
We will be investing in sustainable infrastructure and practices.
But the art will be always be at the center of it all, and our visitors the measure of our success.
We hope that you will read our Strategic Plan, and be inspired, as we are, by the roadmap for the future which it illustrates.
We hope that you will continue to visit the Museum to see that work unfolding, day-by-day. We’ll be here, excited to show you what’s NEU.
Back to me now… Today’s 50th anniversary thank-you goes to Jess and Melissa for all they do to keep me, and the Museum, on track, on schedule, and on budget.
I’d also like to give an additional, and very special 50th anniversary thank-you to Susan and Jim Dubin. Susan has dedicated more than two decades of service to the Museum and the Friends Board—including two terms as chair—and Jim is now in his second term as chair of the Friends Finance Committee. Both have been champions for the Museum and the arts, serving on committees, chairing galas, funding exhibitions and important acquisitions, aspects of our education program, and so much more. They are incredible partners and wonderful friends. We are grateful for their ongoing support.
Tracy Fitzpatrick
Director, Neuberger Museum of Art
Watch for a new backstory every Wednesday and follow us on social media as we share stories about the Museum’s history, our evolution to the present day, and look ahead to our exciting future. Stay up-to-date with the latest news and “NEU 50 Years” updates on our anniversary webpage.