Brian P. Kennedy Email and Phone Number

Results-oriented expert consultant with strategic mindset and excellent management skills supporting ideas, concepts and opportunities. Adept as organizational team leader, planner, mentor, educator, curator, exhibition organizer, writer, conference facilitator, community builder. Strong leadership and management skills accomplish change by energizing and encouraging achievement. Known for passion, energy and commitment to fostering relationships with individuals, businesses, corporations, foundations and philanthropies.Projects include: Consultant Adviser to E.A. Michelson Philanthropy on Vitality Arts, a major initiative distributing grants to promote creating aging and address ageism in American art museums; Interim Executive Director, Vermont Studio Center (430 artists and writers in residency each year); Interim Executive Director, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland, Maine; consulting advice to philanthropists engaged with the arts and cultural sector; strategic planning development work and accreditation/reaccreditation advice for art museums. Currently Atlantic Fellow, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin (2024-2025). Past chair of the Irish Association of Art Historians (1996-97) and of the Council of Australian Art Museum Directors (2001-03), served as trustee and treasurer of the American Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), as peer reviewer for the American Association of Museums, and member of the International Association of Art Critics. In 2003, awarded a Centenary of Federation medal by the Australian Government for service to Australian society and its art. Received the 2014 Northwest Region, Ohio Art Education Association award for distinguished educator for art education, and the 2021 Creative Achievement Award from the International Visual Literacy Association.

Led the museum through the challenges associated with the pandemic crisis, began a strategic planning process, and continued work on diversity and inclusion. Developed PEM to a strong position moving forward, with a Collections Center and a new Wing opened in 2019, completed innovative installations of its collections, launched acclaimed exhibitions and publications, and successfully adapted to a COVID-19 operating environment.

President, Director and CEO of the Toledo Museum of Art from 2010 to 2019. Oversaw a 36-acre campus housing one of America’s great art collections in three architecturally significant buildings. As a collaborative leader, led development of successive strategic plans for the Toledo Museum of Art that strongly integrated it within the community. The plans focused on sustainability, especially through alternative energy sources, building staff capacity, introducing new technologies and developing an initiative to promote visual literacy. Diverse exhibition programming and significant art acquisitions grew Toledo’s reputation. Annual fundraising of $3M, along with a successful private campaign raising $46m, bolstered the museum's finances and grew its $250m endowment.A frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, with extensive experience as an art historian, curator and academic, author of six books, and editor of six more, appointed as Inaugural Eminent Professor at the University of Toledo (2012-19). Served as Co-Chair of the Toledo Area Cultural Leaders, and was a board member of ProMedica Health System, ConnecToledo and Destination Toledo.

Director, Art Museum.Professor, Department of History of ArtFrom 2005-2010, director of Dartmouth College’s Hood Museum of Art in Hanover, New Hampshire, which has one of the longest established and most wide-ranging art collections among American colleges and universities. While at the Hood, was a prolific exhibition curator and scholar, writing books on Sean Scully and Frank Stella. A respected lecturer, campus thought leader and mentor, developed the museum team to incorporate ideas on visual literacy into program activities and to introduce them to the Dartmouth faculty's interdisciplinary educational practices. He was appointed Adjunct Professor in the Department of Art History. An exciting roster of exhibitions and contemporary art projects won acclaim from campus faculty, student and broader community. Initiated an extensive website development and the museum published over 20 books about the collections. A successful fundraising campaign was realized to promote museum programs and seedfund a future museum expansion (now complete).

While in Australia, as director of one of Australia's premier, national cultural institutions, initiated a free admission policy, increased attendance through a series of major exhibitions and acquisitions, oversaw international tours of works from the national collection, loaned major works of art to Australian regional galleries, raised private fundraising significantly, and led a total building refurbishment as well as opening a new wing to accommodate major temporary exhibitions.

Second most senior post in Irish National Gallery during a period of museum building refurbishment and expansion, major exhibitions and art acquisitions, and international tours from the collections to the USA, Australia and Japan.

Worked on the budget of the Irish Office of Public Works, and the building and maintenance needs of major Irish National Cultural Institutions.