From the director

When the Worcester Art Museum opened its doors 125 years ago, it had a noble purpose: to be an institution where people of all backgrounds could experience art from across the globe and through the centuries. While initially quite modest, the collection grew over the decades into one that is truly outstanding, thanks to generous funding, wonderful gifts of artwork, and capable curators. Today, our organization is on the threshold of an exciting new era, one in which we meet the challenge of being an art museum “for the benefit of all” in the 21st century—in a world very different from 1898.

At the touch of a screen our collection now has worldwide reach and influence. At the same time, our in-person connections with individuals right here in our own community—through exhibitions, programs, and educational partnerships—are more important than ever. Our responsibility to be a museum for all includes a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, as well as embracing stories about human creativity that were left untold in the past. You can witness how we are meeting this responsibility as we add works by historically underrepresented artists to our collection, significantly strengthening their voices and stories at WAM. And how, with our new Lancaster Street Plaza, all of our visitors can now access every Museum entrance.

In the coming months, you will continue to see construction equipment and hear the noise of hammering and drilling as our historic campus gets a much-needed makeover. Already, energy-efficient windows in the Higgins Education Wing and HVAC upgrades are making us greener. A new modern library—also in the Higgins Education Wing—is improving how researchers can use this important art history resource. And roof replacements and enhanced fire-suppression systems are ensuring that our galleries and public spaces are protected. The disruptions and noise are only temporary. When the work is finished, the museum building will be fully updated, better equipped to safeguard the collection and provide a comfortable, sustainable environment for staff and visitors in the decades to come. We will also have a new arms and armor gallery—a much-anticipated addition that will revolutionize our programming.

Throughout its history, the Worcester Art Museum has evolved to meet the changes in our global and local communities. This is only possible thanks to bold, forward-thinking leadership; hard-working, committed staff; and generous supporters, who care about making art available for all. We owe a great deal to the individuals who invested in the Museum over the years. The depth and impact of their contributions—whether it has been through dedicating their time and work, gifts of art, or financial donations—are evident in our recent and forthcoming exhibitions. These include last year’s Jewels of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Treasures from the Worcester Art Museum and The Floating World: Japanese Prints from the Bancroft Collection, and this year’s Frontiers of Impressionism and Watercolors Unboxed (see pages 8–11). We are excited to share these fresh presentations of some of our most treasured collections.

The Museum is in a very good place, and I am energized by our collective ambitions and commitment to bring it to the next level. In January, the Board voted unanimously to launch a fundraising effort to raise a total of $125 million. The goal of this important campaign is to strengthen the Museum’s physical and financial foundations so WAM can realize its full potential as a transformational organization. Over the past few years, through the support of our Board and close friends, we have raised $58 million of the $125 million goal. We will need your help, and I look forward to keeping you informed of our shared effort.

With so many inspiring and positive initiatives happening all at once, this is a great moment to reflect on Stephen Salisbury’s vision and the Worcester Art Museum’s future. We are grateful to you—our generous Members, Trustees, partners, donors, funders, and volunteers—for helping bring us to this moment and for believing in the Museum’s tremendous potential. I hope you will enjoy reading this issue of access and learning more about our upcoming projects and programs. As always, we would love to hear about your experiences at WAM. Please send your comments to marketing@worcesterart.org.

Worcester Art Museum

Board of Trustees 2023

Dorothy Chen-Courtin, President

Douglas S. Brown, Vice President

Sarah G. Berry, Treasurer

Susan M. Bassick, Clerk

Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

Lawrence H. Curtis

Jennifer Davis Carey

James C. Donnelly, Jr.

Michael B. Fox

Mark W. Fuller

Jennifer C. Glowik-Adams

Karen M. Keane

Sohail Masood

Thomas P. McGregor

Thomas Michie

Malcolm A. Rogers

Kent Russell

Jonathan R. Sigel

Anne-Marie Soullière

Cynthia L. Strauss

George W. Tetler

Carmen D. Vazquez

Christina Villena

Ex Officio – Matthias Waschek, The Jean and Myles McDonough Director of the Worcester Art Museum

Jean and Myles McDonough Director