On the Move
Photo: Tasha Pinelo
After nearly three years at the helm of the Contemporary Arts Center, Christina Vassallo, CAC’s Alice & Harris Weston Director, is heading back to Philadelphia. She has been named the executive director of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Vassallo joined CAC in March 2023, leading a strategic planning process that established new institutional priorities centered on community engagement, organizational sustainability, the museum’s local and global connections, and a new artistic vision that will guide the institution as it looks toward its 90th anniversary in 2027.
“We are so grateful to Christina for her bold leadership and thoughtful direction of the CAC during this time,” say Emily Kokenge and Rick Michelman, CAC’s board presidents. “She has played a pivotal role, guiding CAC during the building’s anniversary, creating partnerships with regional and local art organizations, strengthening the organization’s financial stability, and enhancing CAC’s reputation as a place to experience challenging and inspirational contemporary art.”
During her tenure, CAC celebrated the 20th anniversary of its landmark Zaha Hadid designed building with a robust series of programs and the exhibition “A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure.” Vassallo helped bring the traveling exhibition, “Jayson Musson: His History of Art,” to CAC and supported the development of solo exhibitions by Vivan Browne, Marcus Leslie Singleton, and Sheida Solemani, as well as forthcoming exhibitions by Gee Horton and Michael Stillion. In collaboration with colleagues at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, she also conceived and launched “Ohio Now,” a new triennial devoted to artists living and working across the state.
“It has been an honor to shepherd CAC and be part of Cincinnati’s vibrant artistic legacy,” says Vassallo. “I’m so proud of the exhibitions we’ve brought to the city, the strong partnerships we’ve forged with artists from around the world, and the steps we’ve taken to embrace a mission to develop a more empathetic world through the creation and experience of all contemporary art forms.”
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage conducted an extensive search following the departure of the previous executive director in October. Vassallo’s appointment is the result of a nationwide search overseen by the Barnes Foundation, in collaboration with The Pew Charitable Trusts and the search firm Russell Reynolds Associates.
“Christina is a strategic leader with a proven track record of strengthening nonprofits; engaging stakeholders; managing complex partnerships; developing timely, impactful programs; and understanding Philadelphia’s cultural community,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood in a statement as vice president at the Pew Charitable Trusts, the primary funder of the Pew Center.
CAC's board is searching for an interim director who will work closely with CAC's leadership team. Museum Search & Reference (MS&R), a Boston-based executive search firm that specializes in recruiting senior leadership for museums, historic sites, and other cultural institutions, will also be used to find and hire a new CAC director.