MILWAUKEE -- $8 million has been gifted to the Milwaukee Art Museum to support the future director of the museum, Dr. Marcelle Polednik.
Dr. Marcelle Polednik
The donation came from long-time supporters Donald and Donna Baumgartner, from Milwaukee's Paper Machinery Corporation.
The museum's current director, Dan Keegan, will be retiring this week after eight years on the job.
Museum officials announced Tuesday, May 17th that Dr. Polednik was selected as the first "Donna and Donald Baumgartner" director.
According to a news release, Polednik, currently the director and chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, joins the Milwaukee Art Museum at a significant time in its history after an extensive $34 million renovation, reinstallation and expansion project, and the historic acquisition of the O’Donnell Property.
Polednik was selected after a robust national search from a field of dozens of candidates. She is expected to start working at the Museum in mid-August.
The following was shared by museum officials regarding Polednik's background in the news release:
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