Powerhouse Arts, a nonprofit inventive manufacturing middle in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood, introduced that curator Liz Munsell to the function of vp of curatorial and humanities packages. Munzell will change Diya Vij, who was not too long ago appointed because the commissioner of cultural affairs for New York Metropolis.
In her function, Munsell will work on increasing Powerhouse’s annual exhibitions and public programming, in addition to overseeing its artist residency and subsidy initiatives and the artwork festivals which are held at Powerhouse, like Conductor, which can open its subsequent version in April.
“Having devoted my profession to conventional museums with extraordinary collections and weighty histories, I used to be drawn to the chance to rethink how establishments help artists,” Munsell mentioned in a press release. “Powerhouse Arts gives an setting of deep materials, technical, and neighborhood assets that aligns carefully with my artist and audience-centered curatorial observe.”
Powerhouse Arts additionally introduced the hiring of Constanza Valenzuela as affiliate curator, who will assist Munsell understand the group’s forthcoming slate of exhibitions. Valenzuela was most not too long ago assistant curator at Excessive Line Artwork.
Munsell added, “Constructing a brand new exhibitions program at Powerhouse Arts gives a possibility to disclose the unimaginable community of manufacturing, experimentation, and collaboration unfolding right here daily.”
Munsell was most not too long ago a curator of up to date artwork on the Jewish Museum in New York. Previous to that function, she labored in varied curatorial roles on the Museum of Nice, Boston, for over 12 years, rising to the title of curator of up to date artwork.
Over the course of her profession, she has organized exhibitions for artists like Joan Semmel, Joan Jonas, Cecilia Vicuña, Jeffrey Gibson, Pablo Helguera, Bouchra Khalili, and Pedro Reyes, in addition to the MFA Boston’s 2020–21 exhibition “Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Era,” which she co-organized with Greg Tate.
In 2021, Munsell cofounded Museums Transferring Ahead, a company geared toward producing analysis on the museum sector in an effort to make it extra equitable and that’s anticipated to sundown in 2030.
“I’m excited to assist construct an establishment that embodies the values of variety, accessibility, and inclusion that many people have been working towards,” Munsell mentioned of her new function at Powerhouse Arts.
“Liz brings a beneficial mixture of curatorial rigor, institutional perception, and a deep dedication to artists,” Powerhouse Arts president Eric Shiner mentioned in a press release. “Her management will assist us additional mannequin what an arts establishment might be within the twenty-first century, with a give attention to creative manufacturing, collaboration, and neighborhood.”
