Frist Art Museum
Executive Director
| Executive Director | Dr. Seth Feman |
|---|---|
| sfeman@fristartmuseum.org | |
| Term Start | April 2022 |
| Seth's Experience: As Deputy Director for Art and Interpretation and Curator of Photography at the Chrysler Art Museum, Dr. Feman led the curatorial, education, and registration departments to develop dynamic exhibitions, transformative learning experiences, and engaging programming. He joined the Chrysler in 2012 to support the museum's renovation and reinstallation by developing and implementing a new interpretive and collections display strategy. After several years in the education department, he was named Curator of Exhibitions and Photography during which time he oversaw the exhibition program and relaunched the photography program by significantly expanding the photography collection. Over the past nine years, Dr. Feman successfully expanded the Chrysler's community of supporters by developing a skilled professional staff and insisting that the institution's national reputation be founded on exemplary local engagement. Through a series of roles at the museum, he has shepherded the Chrysler through a successful renovation and reinstallation; realized a robust program of in-house generated, traveling exhibitions; developed an array of new programs that draws on an extensive network of community partnerships; and secured funding for the next stage of the museum's growth. While at the Chrysler he established and implemented strategic priorities for the institution; oversaw a $9-million annual operating budget; managed several board committees and donor groups; and coordinated the work of the curatorial, conservation, education, library, registration, and exhibition teams with a staff of more than 100. With a track record of sound fiscal management and nimble budgetary administration, Dr. Feman's teams have thrived, even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
Senior Staff
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Ms. Anne Henderson | Director of Education & Community Engagement |
| Ms. Ellen Pryor | Director of Communications |
| Mr. Hans Schmitt-Matzen | Assistant Director of Internal Affairs |
| Mr. Mark Scala | Chief Curator |
| Ms. Sheri Horn | Human Resources Manager |
| Ms. Carol Vollbrecht | Director of Finance |
| Mr. Jonathan Norris | Chief Development Officer |
Staff
| Full Time Staff | 59 |
|---|---|
| Part Time Staff | 8 |
| Volunteers | 210 |
| Contractors | 30 |
| Retention Rate | 84% |
Plans & Policies
| Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Does your organization have a Strategic Plan? | Yes |
| Years Strategic Plan Considers | 5 |
| When was the Strategic Plan adopted? | January 2024 |
| Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan? | Yes |
| Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy? | Yes |
Evaluation
| Is there a formal evaluation for... | Frequency (if applicable) | |
|---|---|---|
| CEO/Executive Director | Yes | Annually |
| Senior Management | Yes | Annually |
| Non-Management | Yes | Annually |
Affiliations
| Affiliation | Year |
|---|---|
| 18th Avenue Family Enrichment Center | 2005 |
| American Association of Museums | 2001 |
| Americans for the Arts | 2001 |
| Antioch Community Center | 2007 |
| CABLE | 2015 |
| Catholic Charities USA | 2006 |
| Centennial Art Center | 2011 |
| Center for Nonprofit Management Excellence Network | 2001 |
| Conexion Americas | 2010 |
| Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee | 2011 |
| Metro Nashville Arts Commission | 2004 |
| Metro Parks and Recreation | 2000 |
| Nashville Arts Coalition | 2007 |
| Nashville Public Library (Main) | 2005 |
| Nashville Public Television | 2012 |
| National Endowment for the Arts | 2004 |
| Oasis Center | 2005 |
| Tennesseans for the Arts | 2001 |
| Thompson Lane Branch Library | 2001 |
| Vanderbilt Kennedy Center | 2004 |
| Vanderbilt University | 2004 |
| YMCA of Middle Tennessee | 2007 |
External Assessments and Accreditations
| Assessment/Accreditation | Year |
|---|---|
| American Association of Museums - 10 Year Accreditation | 2016 |
Awards
| Award / Recognition | Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Best Art Event: Nick Cave Feat. Nashville at the Schermerhorn | Nashville Scene | 2018 |
| Best Arts Fundraiser: The Frist Gala | Nashville Scene | 2018 |
| Best Curator: Katie Delmez | Nashville Scene | 2019 |
| Best Exhibit: Chaos and Awe: Painting in the 21st Century | Nashville Scene | 2018 |
| Best Historical Exhibition: Rome: City and Empire | Nashville Scene | 2018 |
| Best Local Artist Spotlight: Murals of North Nashville Now | Nashville Scene | 2019 |
| Best Marketing Move: The Frist Rebranding as an Art Museum | Nashville Scene | 2018 |
| Best Museum | Nashville Scene | 2019 |
| Best Radical Exhibition: Slavery, the Prison Industrial Complex: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick | Nashville Scene | 2018 |
| Best Social-Practice Art History Exhibition: Dorothea Lange: Politics of Seeing | Nashville Scene | 2019 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Audio Visual: Exhibition Component: World War I ?Power and Propaganda? Interactive | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2018 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Educational Programming: Extrasensory Community Arts Project | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2018 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Special Event: Ritual in Action: Making a Mandala | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2018 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Temporary Exhibits: We Count: First-Time Voters | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2021 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Educational Programming: Frist Art Museum: Trilingual Storytime Online | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2021 |
| Best Museum | Nashville Scene | 2021 |
| Resolution No. RS2021-1111 recognizing and celebrating the Frist Art Museum's 20th Anniversary | Government of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County | 2021 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Temporary Exhibits: Murals of North Nashville Now | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2020 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Publication-Gallery Guide: Eric Carle's Picture Books | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2020 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Audio Visual Exhibition Component: Frida's Personal Style Touchscreen Interactive | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2020 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Educational Programming: Native Women Free Family Festival Day | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2020 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Educational Programming: Paris 1900: City of Entertainment Free Family Festival Day | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2019 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Permanent Exhibits: Martin ArtQuest | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2019 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Temporary Exhibits: Chaos and Awe: Painting for the 21st Century | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2019 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Publications-Gallery Guide: Bonjour, Paris! Family Activity Guide | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2019 |
| TAM Award of Excellence for Publications-Newsletter: Frist Art Museum Quarterly | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2019 |
| Best Museum | Nashville Scene | 2022 |
| Best Breakthrough: LeXander Bryant's Forget Me Nots | Nashville Scene | 2022 |
| Award of Excellence, Educational Programming: Martin ArtQuest Gallery: American Art Deco | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2022 |
| Award of Excellence, Temporary Exhibition: Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2022 |
| Award of Excellence, Blockbuster Exhibition: Picasso. Figures | Tennessee Association of Museums | 2022 |
