New Orleans, LA – Susan Taylor, the Montine McDaniel Freeman Director at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), announced today the appointment of Allison Reid as Director of the Department of Interpretation and Audience Engagement. Previously the Vice President for Collections & Programs at Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art in Nashville, Tennessee, Reid comes to NOMA with nearly 15 years of museum experience and a strong hands-on, visitor-focused philosophy toward exhibitions and programming.
“Allison has a creative energy and holistic approach to shaping the visitor experience, spearheading innovative initiatives that engage a broad and diverse audience-a mission that is central to NOMA’s program,” says Taylor. “Her proven track record of accomplishments, natural leadership skills, and dynamic vision will be tremendous assets to our recently launched Department of Interpretation and Audience Engagement and support the expansion of our educational offerings. We are delighted to welcome Allison to our team.”
Recently, Reid provided institutional leadership as a senior manager in planning and preparation for Cheekwood’s 50th anniversary in 2010, which included a year-long celebration and marked the presentation of the institution’s largest exhibition. During Reid’s tenure, Cheekwood saw its annual visitation double and its membership rates steadily grow.
Prior to joining Cheekwood in 2007, Reid served as the Assistant Director for Education at NOMA (1999-2006), where she led the department in developing educational programming grounded in the museum’s expansive encyclopedic collection.
“I am thrilled to be rejoining the team at NOMA, especially as they embark on the creation of a new platform of educational initiatives,” says Reid. “I share NOMA’s vision of strong community engagement and continued audience growth and look forward to building on the visitor experience with the museum.”
DEPARTMENT OF INTERPRETATION AUDIENCEENGAGEMENT
NOMA’s Department of Interpretation and Audience Engagement is the educational component to the museum, dedicated to providing opportunities to broaden the understanding of and interaction with the arts and creative thinking. We offer tours, programs and art-making activities that engage our diverse communities with the rich collections and temporary exhibitions on view at NOMA. Programs for students, educators, and the public are thoughtfully designed to awaken the imaginations of museum visitors and foster inquisitiveness in the creative process and artistic expression.
NOMA Admission
Wednesdays are FREE for all museum visitors. Adults, $10; Seniors (65 and up) and Students, $8; Children 7-17, $6; Children 6 and under, free. Free Wednesdays are made possible through the generosity of The Helis Foundation.