Brooklyn Museum’s Longtime Director Plans to Retire

whynot_31

Mr. Lehman increased the museum’s annual attendance to 558,788 visitors from 247,000. He also more than doubled the institution’s endowment, which is now $123 million, but was $55 million when he arrived in 1997. Since 1998, with the introduction of programs like First Saturdays, when the museum is open free until 11 p.m. on the first Saturday of almost every month, he has transformed the place into a kind of nightclub, with food, wine and live music. This popular event has helped turn the place into a hangout for Brooklyn residents and attract a significantly younger crowd.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/arts/design/arnold-lehman-to-step-down-from-his-post.html

Nicely done, Mr Lehman.

Dawndew

Yes. He did it all after he stepped out of his space ship he landed infront of this Beaux Arts classic.
I guess he missed the parking lot in the back.

whynot_31

The article implies the renovation is a big part of its success.

The varied uses of the parking lot have bought in $ as well.

Dawndew

Any renovation would have done the job that was needed but in this case....looks like Las Vegas the way the front space ship blocks the view of the base of the columns. Really, no taste for proportion just the goal of architectural domination.

whynot_31

He responds:
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/37/38/all-lehman-exit-interview-2014-09-19-bk_37_38.html

whynot_31

The new Director has been named:

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=edf19d80b54c0a60a1b913610&id=99267e165a

whynot_31

A path is articulated.

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-next-steps-for-the-brooklyn-museum

morralkan

That "permanent reminder of his tenure," that horrible bus depot that desecrates the facade of the otherwise magnificent beaux arts building, will certainly be a reminder of his horrible lack of taste.

What the article did not mention are the paying membership numbers, before and after his tenure.

By the way, that modern bus depot is not the renovation that was envisioned when the project was funded.