Milwaukee Art Museum director Daniel Keegan will retire in May after eight years of leading the cultural institution.
In a statement, Keegan said the “timing is right” for a new leader to transition into the museum.
“Together we have accomplished so much, resolved longstanding facility issues and, most importantly, kept the doors open to millions of visitors who continue to enjoy this great museum and its world-class programs and experiences,” he said. “There is always more to do and new goals to achieve.”
Among Keegan’s top leadership accomplishments: he worked to negotiate a public-private partnership with Milwaukee County through which the county is investing $10 million to repair museum buildings it owns. That investment joins the museum’s $24 million capital campaign. Through the investments, MAM is opening its reconfigured Collection Galleries this month.
Keegan is also credited with helping to bring a variety of world-class exhibitions to the museum for display, as well as bolstering arts education and museum programming for families, particularly through Kohl’s Art Generation backed by Kohl’s Cares.
The museum’s board of trustees plans to create a search committee to pinpoint Keegan’s successor.
