Arts & Entertainment

Katonah Museum of Art Appoints Interim Director

Museum officials said Belinda Roth of Katonah will fill the role vacated by Neil Watson in the same week that Director of Development Allison Chernow announced her departure.

After serving as development officer for the Katonah Museum of Art since 2008, resident Belinda Roth is switching to the role of interim executive director.

The position opened after Neil Watson, who worked as executive director for seven and a half years, departed in November. The museum's Board of Trustees said then that the search for a successor "would begin immediately."

On Wednesday, Board President Rochelle Rosenberg announced Roth's appointment, which took effect Monday. She also said that a national search to permanently fill the spot is ongoing.

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Here is some background information on Roth:

She received her bachelor of arts in art history from Williams College, a master of arts in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, and a master of business administration in marketing, management and strategy from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. Prior to joining the museum she was a marketing manager at American Express. She has also worked at various New York museums and galleries, including the Brooklyn Museum and Greenberg Van Doren Gallery. 

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The museum's vacant positions are not limited to the one left by Watson. Allison Chernow, who serves as director of development, announced earlier this week that, she is taking a job with the Bronx Museum of the Arts as director of external affairs.

"The past seven years at the KMA have been remarkable. It’s been satisfying to help develop and launch initiatives such as Second Saturdays, Shades of Jazz, Crosstalk, outdoor movies, board and overseer receptions, Feast Your Eyes luncheons, and special fundraisers like Hammerstein’s Broadway, Crafts and Couture and others," Chernow said. "Many of these programs were developed in partnership with KMA staff and supported by board members and other generous contributors—a testimony to the KMA’s collaborative spirit."


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