New Chief Curator appointed by Cleveland Museum of Art

2008-07-18 04:08:21 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Art)

Chicago, Illinois (WiredPRNews.com) — A new chief curator has been appointed by the Cleveland Museum of Art aimed at strengthening its artistic side, complementing a renovation and expansion worth $350 million scheduled to be completed in 2012. The museum has announced that C. Griffith Mann, previously the director of the curatorial division at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, will take on the duties of Chief Curator by September. Timothy Rub, Art Director of the museum, said that he is friendly, well-spoken and despite his young age, he is a seasoned leader and administrator in the field.

Mann, 39, was a curator in 1999 and then became the top curator at Walters Art Museum in 2007. In 2002, he completed his doctorate in medieval art history from Johns Hopkins University. He said he loves talking to museum visitors and shaping programs, and is more excited about joining the Cleveland Museum as it is in its phase of renovation.

In June 2008, the museum opened its main floor gallery of its 1916 building that includes 25% of the entire space which the museum is going to open once the expansion gets completed. This leaves more space to be built or renovated and for the reinstallation of collections from the 19th century European art to contemporary and modern Asian, Islamic, pre-Columbian and African art.

Mann, known as Griff, holds internships with the museum from 1992-1994. His new job emphasizes on the study, presentation and expansion of the collection and special exhibitions. A director’s position was created for the museum services to assist in handling logistical and technical aspects of safeguarding, exhibiting and caring for works and collections during special shows. The Cleveland Museum has displayed reliquaries that contain bones of saints and fragments of the True Cross. He wants to give emphasis on the significance of the religious relics.

Born in Cambridge, Mann has a wife, Amanda with three children. He is also a baseball fan and coaches the Little League during his leisure time.

Wired Art Reporter