In the News...
Perkins to leave Museum
NEAL P. GOSWAMI
Posted: 05/19/2011 11:04:02 PM EDT
Thursday May 19, 2011
BENNINGTON -- Bennington Museum Executive Director Stephen Perkins is planning to step down at the end of June, museum officials announced on Thursday.
Perkins joined the museum in June 2001 as curator of collections and became its executive director in June 2005.
"Over that time I hope I’ve made an impact here. I think my greatest accomplishment was changing the mission, altering the mission, and including the Bennington community," Perkins said. "That’s been reflected in our visitation. Local visitation has gone from 5 percent to 42 percent."
Deana Mallory named interim director
Don Miller, the chairman of the museum’s board of trustees, said current director of Public Programs Deana Mallory has been named interim director and will take over management of the museum when Perkins departs.
Perkins, a native of Williston, said he plans to return to his family farm with his wife and children and become the fourth generation to operate it. Perkins said the property was purchased for his grandfather by his great-grandfather shortly after World War II.
"We absolutely love Vermont and never wanted to leave the state. In fact, we came to Bennington because we had been away," he said.
Perkins said he has another job lined up doing similar work in the Burlington area. He declined to elaborate, however, because the organization is planning its own announcement in the next few weeks.
Miller credited Perkins with helping the museum boost its fundraising and programming, and updating the physical plant. Perkins has also reinvigorated events like the annual Festival of Trees and has created new ones, including the Southern Vermont Home Brew Festival, Miller said.
"Steve has led the museum through major changes in difficult times. First he crafted the expanded mission and programing. Then he brought us close to financial balance. We need to keep these initiatives going, to prove the sustainability of the museum," he said.
Mallory has been with the museum for six years, and has served as Perkins’ deputy director for several years. She said Thursday that she is interested in becoming the museum’s permanent director.
"I’m lucky in that I have this opportunity to see if I’m really suited for it, which I hope I will be," she said. "Initially, I have a lot of learning to do so ... the first couple of months will be a bit of a learning process for me, understanding the financial parts of the organization."
Mallory said she plans to maintain a focus on community involvement. "I feel very passionately about that. I really want to continue that work and make it a very vibrant place," she said.
Miller said the board of trustees is also hoping Mallory will become the museum’s long-term executive director.
"Right now Deana is perfectly poised because she has been on staff, knows the staff, the staff respects her. She seems very well qualified, very organized," Miller said. "We won’t immediately start a search. We’ll give her a little time. The board will monitor it and decide when and whether to set up a formal search committee. There is always a preference to hire within. We hired Stephen from within and it worked out well."
Perkins said Mallory has his full support as well.
"I hope I’m leaving the museum a better place and certainly I think it’s on the right track," Perkins said. "Deana will do a fabulous job and I look forward to coming back and visiting often."
NEAL P. GOSWAMI
Posted: 05/19/2011 11:04:02 PM EDT
Thursday May 19, 2011
BENNINGTON -- Bennington Museum Executive Director Stephen Perkins is planning to step down at the end of June, museum officials announced on Thursday.
Perkins joined the museum in June 2001 as curator of collections and became its executive director in June 2005.
"Over that time I hope I’ve made an impact here. I think my greatest accomplishment was changing the mission, altering the mission, and including the Bennington community," Perkins said. "That’s been reflected in our visitation. Local visitation has gone from 5 percent to 42 percent."
Deana Mallory named interim director
Don Miller, the chairman of the museum’s board of trustees, said current director of Public Programs Deana Mallory has been named interim director and will take over management of the museum when Perkins departs.
Perkins, a native of Williston, said he plans to return to his family farm with his wife and children and become the fourth generation to operate it. Perkins said the property was purchased for his grandfather by his great-grandfather shortly after World War II.
"We absolutely love Vermont and never wanted to leave the state. In fact, we came to Bennington because we had been away," he said.
Perkins said he has another job lined up doing similar work in the Burlington area. He declined to elaborate, however, because the organization is planning its own announcement in the next few weeks.
Miller credited Perkins with helping the museum boost its fundraising and programming, and updating the physical plant. Perkins has also reinvigorated events like the annual Festival of Trees and has created new ones, including the Southern Vermont Home Brew Festival, Miller said.
"Steve has led the museum through major changes in difficult times. First he crafted the expanded mission and programing. Then he brought us close to financial balance. We need to keep these initiatives going, to prove the sustainability of the museum," he said.
Mallory has been with the museum for six years, and has served as Perkins’ deputy director for several years. She said Thursday that she is interested in becoming the museum’s permanent director.
"I’m lucky in that I have this opportunity to see if I’m really suited for it, which I hope I will be," she said. "Initially, I have a lot of learning to do so ... the first couple of months will be a bit of a learning process for me, understanding the financial parts of the organization."
Mallory said she plans to maintain a focus on community involvement. "I feel very passionately about that. I really want to continue that work and make it a very vibrant place," she said.
Miller said the board of trustees is also hoping Mallory will become the museum’s long-term executive director.
"Right now Deana is perfectly poised because she has been on staff, knows the staff, the staff respects her. She seems very well qualified, very organized," Miller said. "We won’t immediately start a search. We’ll give her a little time. The board will monitor it and decide when and whether to set up a formal search committee. There is always a preference to hire within. We hired Stephen from within and it worked out well."
Perkins said Mallory has his full support as well.
"I hope I’m leaving the museum a better place and certainly I think it’s on the right track," Perkins said. "Deana will do a fabulous job and I look forward to coming back and visiting often."