FROM THE EXECUTIVE
Director
Karen Brosius
Executive Director
This year, I am delighted to be celebrating 10 years as executive director of the Columbia Museum
of Art, and what a remarkable time it has been. When I began in 2004, I instantly recognized
that the CMA had a wonderful art collection of range and diversity. Building on that foundation,
I envisioned the CMA as the cultural anchor of the burgeoning downtown, a catalyst for
economic growth in our city, and a place for arts enrichment for people of all ages in the city and
county. Attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year, the CMA’s ever-growing and dynamic
educational programs and exhibitions also serve an economic
purpose as an anchor of downtown revitalization. We are the
diverse hub of arts, culture, and education in the community.
It is the very essence of who we are as a civic institution that
embodies the promise, opportunity, and greatness that is
evolving in the region.
Over the past 10 years, the CMA has experienced spectacular
growth with audiences of diverse ages, incomes, and
backgrounds. Our attendance and outreach have increased
450% to approximately 140,000 visitors and residents each
year, and the membership has doubled to nearly 4,000. More
than 100,000 students and children have been reached in just
the last five years alone. We have presented groundbreaking exhibitions such as Mark Rothko: The
Decisive Decade 1940-1950 (a nationally recognized exhibition organized by the CMA), brought
iconic Impressionist works of art to our city and state in Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the
Davies Collection, National Museum Wales, and demonstrated our long-standing commitment to
exhibiting work by African-American artists in The Chemistry of Color. The CMA has made its
name as the premier international art museum in the state.
We have continued to expand the Museum collection through purchases and generous donations
that take us from our beginnings in the 1950s, with the incredible Kress gift of European art,
to the recent, generous gift by Herbert and Dorothy Vogel of nearly 600 pieces. Our vibrant
collection, combined with our exhibitions, present art from antiquity to contemporary and
represents diverse cultures unlike any other museum in our state.
During the past decade, you, the members, have invested in our becoming a great cultural
institution offering accessibility, education, and opportunity. With your support, we have created
bridges within the community to promote creativity and connection. From our relationship
with Richland Library to the alliance with Riverbanks Zoo, the CMA has established amazing
partnerships with organizations that have expanded our collaborations with the schools,
universities, community, and regionally and nationally renowned museums.
Columbia is a gold mine. Its wealth of intellectual life, entrepreneurial energy, history, and passion
are a catalyst for change and growth. The CMA is a truly remarkable place because these same
characteristics are corralled within all we do and given a place to thrive. The CMA is one of the
state’s great cultural assets and continues to grow exponentially.
Art inspires us to dream and grow, to remain fluid and temporal. While building on our solid
collection, we always offer innovative, vibrant exhibitions and programs. As new opportunities
arise, you will always find something new in the Columbia Museum of Art.
Front cover: Tiger (after Landseer and Thiele), 2007, oil
on canvas, 72 x 56 in.
Columbia’s ambitions are to build a world-class city, and of course, with that goes the vision
of a world-class art museum. In fact, I can’t think of a great city in America without a great art
museum, and Columbia has a wonderful one.
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Change is good.
columbiamuseum.org