Brooklyn Museum Director Highlights Gender Disparities in Museum Leadership Changes

At the Making Their Mark Forum in Washington, D.C., Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak discussed concerning trends in museum leadership transitions. She observed that male directors typically retire, while female leaders more often face termination. The forum, organized by collector Komal Shah, focused on addressing gender inequities in the art world. Recent examples cited include Sasha Suda's dismissal from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Kim Sajet's departure from the National Portrait Gallery, and Laurence des Cars' resignation from the Louvre. Panelists included Christophe Cherix of MoMA, Kaywin Feldman of the National Gallery of Art, and former Lucas Museum director Sandra Jackson-Dumont, who noted challenges in retaining women in senior roles.