Sarasota Art Museum Hires New Executive Director

SARASOTA, FL — Ringling College of Art and Designed has hired a new executive director for its Sarasota Art Museum.

Virginia Shearer, who currently serves as director of education at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, takes the helm at the Sarasota Art Museum starting Aug. 30, according to a news release.

“I’m very excited to return to a community that is near and dear to my heart and for the opportunity to lead the Sarasota Art Museum into the future,” Shearer said. “The museum’s foundation is strong, thanks to the bold vision of our founders and the Museum Advisory Committee, our integration with Ringling College of Art and Design, and our talented and dedicated museum staff. I am inspired by the Sarasota Art Museum’s commitment to serving as a platform for education, exposure and experimentation and welcome the opportunity to take the Museum through this moment and to ascend to even greater heights. Together we will find new ways to enliven and inspire the Sarasota community through the art of our time.”

As the Eleanor McDonald Storza director of Education at the High Museum, Shearer oversees all areas of the museum’s department of education. She serves as one of six members of the executive team who join High Museum Director Rand Suffolk in setting the strategic priorities for the museum.

Since joining the High Museum in 2005, she has initiated, led, and participated in cross-institutional initiatives that have proven integral to the Museum’s future, including projects such as the High’s summer piazza activation commission series, the Greene Family Learning Gallery and a series of popular exhibitions.

From 2005 to 2012, Shearer served as the High’s Associate Director of Education, leading the public programs team during a period of significant growth that included opening the Greene Family Education Center, the Louvre Atlanta partnership and development of successful young audience initiatives.

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She previously served as Tampa Museum of Art’s deputy director for education and public programs and as director of education at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Shearer holds a bachelor of arts in humanities from Florida State University and a master of arts in teaching in museum education from The George Washington University.

She was selected as a participant in the Getty Leadership Institute program “Museum Leaders: The Next Generation” in 2012 as well as the Getty’s Executive Education Program for Museum Leaders in 2014 and returned to the program as a mentor in 2016. Shearer also served as the Southeastern regional director for the Museum Education Division of National Arts Education Association from 2004 to 2006.

“Virginia has over two decades of museum education experience at the highest levels. She has built her excellent reputation as a leader in the museum field by developing a solid track record in creating experimental, collaborative and research-based platforms for engagement that will serve the museum and our community well,” Ringling College of Art and Design President Dr. Larry R. Thompson said. “We are especially excited to work with her and explore expanding even further the reach and excellence of the museum through partnerships, inclusivity and access."