Museum of Darien Announces New Executive Director

Darien CT

14 March, 2022

3:00 PM

Description

The Board of Directors of the Museum of Darien is pleased to announce the selection of the Museum's new Executive Director, Amy Allen. Allen a native of Darien, served as Executive Director for the Darien Arts Center for 13 years, where she helped set the vision for the organization, secured public and private funding for operations and facilities updates and modernized best practices. Allen also fostered partnerships with area businesses and local nonprofits to advance programming and grow audience participation. "We are delighted to welcome Amy Allen as the next Director of the Museum of Darien," commented Bob Pascal, President of the Board of Directors. "Amy will bring to the museum her expertise in non-profit management, collections management and curating and exhibition management, in addition to her familiarity with the town of Darien and its important leaders." Amy Allen added, "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Museum of Darien. I look forward to working with the museum's historic and diverse collection of furnishings, ephemera, textiles, costumes, quilts and art! Together with its talented staff, dedicated Board of Directors, and knowledgeable volunteers, we can collaboratively build a colorful and exciting path forward for the institution." An accomplished artist, past Silvermine Guild member and gallerist, Amy Allen earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture from the University of Connecticut and her Masters of Arts in Sculpture from the University of Massachusetts. After running an art gallery at UMASS, she moved on to Weir Farm National Historic Park in Wilton, CT, where she managed exhibitions, the Artist-in-Residence program and arts and nature programs for six years. Allen also has extensive experience working for regional Art and History Museums in both the collections and exhibitions departments that include the Morgan Library (NYC), Katonah Museum (Katonah, NY), The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum (Ridgefield CT), Hartford Atheneum (Hartford, CT), Smith College Museum (Northampton, MA) and the Historic Deerfield Museum (Deerfield, MA). Established in 1953 as the Darien Historical Society, the Museum of Darien welcomes all ages to experience and discover the crafted objects, narratives and works of art that have shaped Darien's history, from its earliest beginnings as Middlesex Parish to the prosperous community it is today. The Museum of Darien is located at 45 Old King's Highway in Darien. For more information about visiting or sponsoring the museum, visit museumofdarien.org or call 203.655.9233.