Matthew Braun - Professional Profile & Bio at Ziggs

Biography

An interesting shift is taking place in museums across the country. The traditional, internally focused conversations about "audience building" and "outreach" are giving way to discussions about how the museum can build and sustain community relationships and place itself at the heart of its community. --Daniel Kertzner, from Thriving in the Knowledge Age, J. Falk and B. Sheppard, Altamira Press, 2006.

Providing stable leadership through challenging times has been a rewarding focus in my position as Executive Director of The History Center in Tompkins County (Ithaca, New York). Together with a committed board of trustees and talented staff, we have rejuvenated a modest, underutilized historical society into a center of vibrant programming, strengthened by a growing network of community partnerships. In recognition of these achievements, I had the honor of being the 2005 recipient of the American Association of Museums’ Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence.

I entered the museum world by way of the fine arts. After studying sculpture at Washington University’s School of Art in St. Louis, I went on as a Fulbright Scholar to pursue post-graduate studies at the Slade School of Art at the University of London. These early studio art experiences, including an invigorating residency at the International Studio Program at the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in New York, propelled me into the world of exhibit design where I began my career as Curator of Exhibitions for the National Park Service at St. Louis’s Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (a.k.a. the Gateway Arch). Upon relocating to upstate New York in 1997, I began my tenure with The History Center as curator, and was selected to serve as its Executive Director in 2000.

In 2006, I was chosen to attend the Getty Leadership Institute, held annually at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Together with 30 colleagues from across the nation, I had the privilege of participating in this renowned executive immersion program, focusing on leadership skills, strategy development, and the exploration of new models of orientation for cultural non-profits.