Washington businessman named as new chairman of Hirshhorn Museum
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has announced it has appointed the Washington-based businessman and art collector Daniel H. Sallick as the new chairman of its board of trustees.
Mr Sallick takes over from Minneapolis native Peggy Burnet, who is leaving her role as chairwoman, but will remain on the board of the museum, which after a difficult patch has managed to secure some stability under director Melissa Chiu.
The museum has attracted positive attention by way of several notable exhibition, including a current event covering the work of Robert Irwin.
If future events, such as next year’s installation by Yayoi Kusama, are anything to go by, it seems clear that the tide has now turned, with it once again having pride of place in one of the most historic cities in the United States.
Situated between the Washington Monument and the US Capitol, the building itself is something of an attraction in itself, with its open cylinder elevated on four massive “legs,” along with a large fountain occupying the central courtyard.
And Mr Sallick, who will head up an expanded and diverse board, insists that the museum is now facing up to some hugely exciting times.
Sallick will lead a much-expanded and diverse board. With the addition of investor and collector Adam Singer of Phoenix, membership is now 24, or double the number it was when Chiu arrived in October of 2014. Members come from around the country and the world.
He told the Washington Post: “We’re now doing the kinds of things that we’ve always talked about, and keeping people on their toes about what we’re going to do next.
“Our program needs to be as diverse and exciting as contemporary art, and you’re starting to see that now.
“We are gaining expertise on the board in critical areas such as real estate, finance, technology and collecting contemporary art from emerging areas like Asia and the Middle East. It adds a lot to the dynamic,” he added.
Having co-founded Home Front Communications, which last year merged with Elmendorf/Ryan to become the public affairs agency, Subject Matter, Mr Sallick’s love of art has reportedly lead him to build up a strong collection of pieces, mainly focused around photography, video and texts.
Ms Chiu has reportedly welcomed his appointment, stating that his knowledge of washington will prove a vital tool in helping the museum further enhance its reputation.
“He knows Washington and we’re interested in expanding our Washington audience,” she told the Washington Post. “About 20 per cent of our audience is local, and that’s high for a Smithsonian (museum) but we’d like to expand it.”