PAFA Names Harry Philbrick New Museum Director

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) announced today that Harry Philbrick has been named The Edna S. Tuttleman Director of the Academy Museum, effective March 1, 2011.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110120/PH33755 )

Since 1996, Harry Philbrick has been the Director of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Under his leadership at The Aldrich Museum, attendance tripled and the quality of the programs increased dramatically. Philbrick successfully spearheaded a $9 million capital campaign and a major museum campus expansion project that was completed in 2004. His accomplishments have been recognized by the American Institute of Architects and the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.

In 2007, Philbrick was awarded the Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism in recognition for his outstanding management abilities as director of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum.

Prior to becoming director, Philbrick was The Aldrich Museum's Director of Education, developing the groundbreaking "Student Docent Program," which has served as a model for museums nationwide. He also lectured extensively at the Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum in New York, and was head of the exhibition lecture program at the Hayward Gallery in London.

"I am excited that Harry Philbrick will lead the PAFA Museum to the next level of achievement," states David R. Brigham, PAFA's President and CEO. "His accomplishments as a museum director are impressive, and his strengths in contemporary art, museum education, and fundraising will be particularly valuable. Harry's perspective as a practicing artist will greatly enhance our engagement with emerging and established artists as well as deepen our service to the PAFA community of students, faculty, and alumni."

Harry Philbrick earned his MFA at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and also studied at Columbia University, Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. As a practicing artist, his artwork has been exhibited in Great Britain and the USA.

"Harry Philbrick has vast experience in both the education and art museum world," says Donald R. Caldwell, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "We eagerly anticipate his contributions as a capable leader at a time when PAFA is so vigorously moving forward through its exhibition programs, new acquisitions, and the development of the Lenfest Plaza."

Philbrick's wife, Carolyn Coleburn, is the Vice President and Director of Publicity at Viking, a division of Penguin Group USA. He has three children, Inigo, 23, Clara, 15, and Charlie, 1.

"I am excited to take on the role of director at PAFA. The Academy has a great and unique legacy from its role as an essential participant in the development of American art over the last 200 years," states Philbrick. "I look forward to working with the entire team at PAFA, and the wider community in Philadelphia, to build on this great heritage, to further expand the exhibition and collection programs, and enhancing the Museum's exhibition spaces."

For more information, visit www.pafa.org.

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is America's first school of fine arts and museum.  

SOURCE The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts