Daniel Weiss (art historian)

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Dan Weiss
CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Assumed office
February 28, 2017
Preceded byThomas P. Campbell
President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Assumed office
March 10, 2015
Preceded byEmily Kernan Rafferty
President of Haverford College
In office
2013–2015
Preceded byJoanne V. Creighton
Succeeded byKimberly W. Benston
President of Lafayette College
In office
2005–2013
Preceded byArthur Rothkopf
Succeeded byAlison Byerly
Personal details
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA)
Yale University (MBA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA, PhD)

Daniel Weiss is an American art historian who was the president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.[1][2] In 2022, he announced his intention to step down from the role in June 2023 after an eight-year tenure.[3]

Early life and education[edit]

Weiss graduated from the Wheatley School in 1975,[4] George Washington University's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences with a B.A. in psychology in 1979.[5] In 1982 he graduated with a master's in medieval and modern art from Johns Hopkins University and subsequently, in 1985, obtained an MBA from the Yale School of Management. In 1992, he returned to Johns Hopkins and obtained a PhD in Western Medieval and Byzantine Art[6] and a minor in classical Greek art and architecture.[7]

Career[edit]

After obtaining his MBA he joined the management consultancy Booz, Allen & Hamilton in New York. He left in 1989, to obtain his PhD degree and afterwards started working at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he served as history of art professor and department head from 1992 to 2001 and as dean of faculty from 2001 to 2002.[6][8]

From 2002, Weiss was dean of Johns Hopkins University's Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.[9]

From 2005 to 2013, he then served as president of Lafayette College.[10] In 2016, the college named their new black box theater in William C. Buck Hall for Weiss and his wife, Sandra.[11][12] From 2013 to 2015, he served as the president of Haverford College.[13]

Metropolitan Museum[edit]

Weiss was appointed the president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2015, and the president and CEO in 2017.[14][15] At the time of the announcement, Weiss was quoted, "The Met is a place that strives in everything it does to set a world standard, including its administration."[16]

During the first years of his tenure, Weiss navigated budget issues, and was “widely considered a stabilizing force who has led the Met through a period of financial struggle and low morale.”[17] Then leading through a time of COVID, economic uncertainty, and societal unrest, the Met under Weiss was a leader on several high profile topics (including Sackler philanthropic funding,[18] progress on diversity and inclusion within museums,[19] and the return of museum visitors and financial stability[20]).

Weiss faced high operating deficits when he arrived, which led to staff cuts, and led the museum to improved revenue, fundraising records, and on a path track to a balanced budget by 2020.[21] Part of Weiss's efforts included sequencing large capital projects the museum was planning. He moved ahead with renovations of the skylights over the European Paintings galleries, and paused renovation of the modern wing.[22] After the Met made progress on balancing the budget, Weiss announced moving ahead with major renovation of galleries covering art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas.[23][24] Steady progress has been made on those and additional building and capital projects, including skylights project completed on schedule; the Children's library renovation; the announcement of renovation of the galleries for Ancient Near East and Cypriot galleries; and the gift of $125 million for the Modern and Contemporary Tang Wing and the selection of Frida Escobedo as its architect.

In 2017, Weiss was named as the museum's president and chief executive officer.[25] His appointment as the Met's top leader received attention in the museum community, as the higher-ranking role in a museum is traditionally the Director.[17]

Weiss advocated for changing the Met's admissions policy for the first time in 50 years[26]—which was controversial, and has ended up being described as highly successful.[27][28][29] During Weiss' tenure, the museum set attendance records for three years straight, topping seven million visitors annually.[30]

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, under Weiss's leadership, the Met was the first cultural institution to close in New York City, to protect staff and visitors, with others following soon after.[31] Facing the temporary elimination of revenue from areas like admissions, retail and events, as well as the predicted reduction of visitors once the museum could reopen, the Met estimated that it would lose at least $100 million in revenue. Navigating budget crisis included actions such as a hiring freeze and cuts to museum programs, creating an emergency fund, redirecting earnings available from the museum's endowment, and executive pay cuts, including Weiss's.[32] By summer 2020, after five months of closure, the museum was facing $150 million in lost revenue and after keeping nearly all of its staff employed for the duration of the closure, the museum announced layoffs in August 2020.[32] The museum also announced plans to reopen five days a week in August 2020.[33] Attendance increased over ensuing months, and the museum added a sixth day to the schedule in September 2021[34] and has since offered jobs back to all of the security staff that had been laid off.[35]

In the summer of 2020, the Met issued 13 commitments to anti-racism, diversity, and strengthening the Met community, which addressed a range of areas, including how the museum would be hiring staff to how the museum builds and oversee its collection and programming, to how the museum structures its governance, and engages its community. The museum's commitment to this work has dramatically increased in 2020 and 2021. In August 2021, Museum announced that going forward all Met internships will be paid, as opposed to volunteer.[36] Additionally, funds have been committed to support initiatives, exhibitions, and acquisitions to broaden art-historical narratives; and a $10 million acquisitions endowment was created to increase the amount of works by BIPOC artists in its 20th- and 21st-century collections. The museum also hired its first Chief Diversity Office.[37]

Weiss was the first leader to speak out on several important issues touching museums, including the Trump administration decision to pull out of UNESCO.[38] On October 12, 2017, Weiss voiced, on behalf of the museum:

"President Trump's decision to withdraw from UNESCO undermines the historic role of the United States as a leader in this effort and weakens our position as a strong advocate for cultural preservation. Although UNESCO may be an imperfect organization, it has been an important leader and steadfast partner in this crucial work."[39]

Weiss has also taken positions on Saudi funding in the wake of the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi,[40] and the desecration of the US Capitol building in 2021.[41]

Weiss also led the museum's response to concerns over funding from the Sackler family,[42] announcing in 2019 that the Met would turn down financial support from the family [43] and deciding in 2021 to remove the Sackler name from the Met's galleries.[44] The museum's move was described as causing other museums across the field to follow the Met's lead.[45]

Awards[edit]

In 2016, Weiss received a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from George Washington University.[5]

In 2018, Weiss received an honorary degree from Ithaca College,[46] the Leadership and Society Award from the Yale School of Management,[47] and the Centennial Medal from the Foreign Policy Association.[48] He also holds honorary degrees from Lafayette College (2013)[49] and Randolph Macon College (2017).[50]

In 2021 Weiss was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.[51]

Weiss was also one of the inaugural recipients of George Washington University's Monumental Alumni Award[52] in 2021. It is the highest form of recognition given by the university to a GW graduate, honoring living alumni who have made an impact on the world through their work and service.

In January 2022 City and State[53] New York honored Dan Weiss with a lifetime achievement recognition in their "50 Over 50" list, which "extols the accomplishments and experience of 50 individuals who are over the age of 50."

Additional affiliations and memberships[edit]

Weiss serves on the board of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.[54] He is also a member of the board of directors of the Posse Foundation, Wallace Foundation, the Library of America, the University Council at Yale, and of the advisory board of the Yale School of Management.[55][56]

Works[edit]

Weiss has published different books and in June 2017, signed a contract with PublicAffairs for his new book "In That Time: A Story of Loss and Reconciliation in the Era of Vietnam".[57] The book was published in November 2019 and well received by critics.[58] In "Why the Museum Matters," published in November 2022, Weiss contemplates the idea of the universal art museum alongside broad considerations about the role of art in society and what defines a cultural experience.

Books[edit]

  • Art and Crusade in the Age of Saint Louis
  • The Book of Kings: Art, War, and the Morgan Library's Medieval Picture Bible
  • The Morgan Crusader Bible
  • France and the Holy Land
  • Remaking College[59]
  • In That Time
  • Why the Museum Matters

References[edit]

  1. ^ van Riel, Prof.dr Cees B.M. (October 30, 2017). "Ranking The World's Most Admired Art Museums, And What Big Business Can Learn From Them". Forbes.
  2. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (28 February 2017). "Metropolitan Museum's Director Resigns Under Pressure". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "Daniel Weiss Announces Intention to Step Down as President and CEO of The Met in June 2023 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  4. ^ "Glad news". www.wheatleyalumni.org/. The Wheatley School Alumni Association. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b "GW Arts & Sciences Fall/Winter 2016". Issuu. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  6. ^ a b "Jewish Art Historian Takes the Reins at Met Museum". The Forward. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  7. ^ "Curriculum Vitae: Daniel Weiss". Arts & Sciences Magazine. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  8. ^ "Johns Hopkins Magazine -- November 1999". pages.jh.edu. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  9. ^ "Former Johns Hopkins student, faculty member to lead New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Hub. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  10. ^ "Daniel H. Weiss Biography · The President · Lafayette College". president.lafayette.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  11. ^ "New College Theater Will be Named for Daniel and Sandra Weiss". liveconnected.lafayette.edu. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  12. ^ "New College Theater Will be Named for Daniel and Sandra Weiss · News · Lafayette College". news.lafayette.edu. July 11, 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  13. ^ Greifeld, Katie (March 10, 2015). "President Weiss to Step Down in July". The Clerk.
  14. ^ "Daniel H. Weiss Named Next President of The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met. March 10, 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Daniel H. Weiss Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met. June 13, 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  16. ^ Kennedy, Randy (March 10, 2015). "Metropolitan Museum of Art Names New President: Daniel Weiss". The New York Times.
  17. ^ a b Pogrebin, Robin (June 13, 2017). "Met Museum Changes Leadership Structure". The New York Times.
  18. ^ "How The Met is handling dilemma of donor accountability". PBS Newshour. May 16, 2019.
  19. ^ Kenney, Nancy (May 25, 2021). "Exclusive survey: what progress have US museums made on diversity, after a year of racial reckoning?". The Art Newspaper.
  20. ^ Da Silva, Jose (March 28, 2022). "Visitor Figures 2021: the 100 most popular art museums in the world—but is Covid still taking its toll?". The Art Newspaper.
  21. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (November 16, 2017). "With Big Gift and Tighter Oversight, the Met Gains Solid Ground". The New York Times.
  22. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (January 11, 2017). "The Metropolitan Museum Will Delay a New $600 Million Wing". The New York Times.
  23. ^ Gibson, Eleanor (November 18, 2019). "The Met announces $70 million renovation of Africa, Oceania and Americas galleries". Dezeen.
  24. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (November 18, 2018). "Met's Leaders Move Ahead With Modern and Rockefeller Wings". The New York Times.
  25. ^ Popera, Ashleigh (June 23, 2017). "Daniel H. Weiss Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of The Met". Architect Magazine.
  26. ^ Freeman, Nate (January 4, 2018). "Met to Charge Mandatory $25 Admission Fee to Out-Of-Towners, Ending 'Suggested' Rates". Artnews.
  27. ^ Vartanian, Hrag (January 8, 2018). "Met Museum President Daniel Weiss Answers Questions About the New Admissions Policy". Hyperallergic.
  28. ^ Kreinin Souccar, Miriam (January 4, 2019). "Met Museum attendance, revenue up a year after imposing fee". Crain's New York Business.
  29. ^ Moynihan, Colin (March 18, 2019). "Met Admission Fees Will Send $2.8 Million to Over 175 City Cultural Groups". The New York Times.
  30. ^ Smee, Sebastian (July 5, 2018). "Met sees highest attendance ever — even with new admission fees". The Washington Post.
  31. ^ Pogrebin, Robin and Michael Cooper (March 12, 2020). "New York's Major Cultural Institutions Close in Response to Coronavirus". The New York Times.
  32. ^ a b Jacobs, Julia (August 5, 2020). "Met Shrinks Staff Again, Totaling 20 Percent Cut". The New York Times.
  33. ^ Libbey, Peter (July 15, 2020). "Metropolitan Museum of Art to Reopen Five Days a Week in August". The New York Times.
  34. ^ "Metropolitan Museum of Art to Expand Hours, Close One Day a Week". NBC. September 3, 2021.
  35. ^ Moynihan, Colin (January 11, 2022). "The Met Increases Its Pay to Guards to Address Covid-Related Shortages". The New York Times.
  36. ^ Kenney, Nancy (August 3, 2020). "Metropolitan Museum of Art commits to paying all interns after $5m gift". The Art Newspaper.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^ Small, Zachary (November 23, 2020). "Met Museum Appoints Chief Diversity Officer". The New York Times.
  38. ^ Harris, Gardiner; Erlanger, Steven (October 12, 2017). "U.S. Will Withdraw From Unesco, Citing Its 'Anti-Israel Bias'". The New York Times.
  39. ^ "Metropolitan Museum of Art Issues Statement Against U.S. Decision to Pull Out of UNESCO", BY Alex Greenberger, 10/12/17. Artnews journal. [1].
  40. ^ Deb, Sopan (October 18, 2018). "Met and Brooklyn Museums Will Not Use Saudi Money for Programs on the Middle East". The New York Times.
  41. ^ Kenney, Nancy (January 14, 2021). "'Shameful vandalism and desecration': Met leaders condemn right-wing crowd's assault on US Capitol". The Art Newspaper.
  42. ^ McGlone, Peggy (March 26, 2019). "As more museums say no to Sackler donations, family trust halts its giving". The Washington Post.
  43. ^ Harris, Elizabeth A. (May 15, 2019). "The Met Will Turn Down Sackler Money Amid Fury Over the Opioid Crisis". The New York Times.
  44. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (December 9, 2021). "Met Museum Removes Sackler Name From Wing Over Opioid Ties". The New York Times.
  45. ^ Marshall, Alex (March 25, 2022). "British Museum to Remove Sackler Name From Its Walls". The New York Times.
  46. ^ "Ithaca College to Recognize Three with Honorary Degrees - IC News - Ithaca College". www.ithaca.edu. Archived from the original on 2018-12-04.
  47. ^ "Indra K. Nooyi '80 and Daniel H. Weiss '85 Honored by NYC Alumni Chapter". Yale.edu. November 20, 2018.
  48. ^ NYSD Staff (November 5, 2018). "The Foreign Policy Association celebrates 100 years". New York Social Diary.
  49. ^ "Five Distinguished Leaders Receive Honorary Degrees at 178th Commencement". Lafayette.edu. May 25, 2013.
  50. ^ "R-MC Announces 2017 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients". Randolph-Macon College. March 27, 2017.
  51. ^ "New Members American Academy of Arts and Sciences". Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  52. ^ "Introducing GW's Inaugural Monumental Alumni". GW Magazine. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  53. ^ "The 2022 50 Over 50". www.cityandstateny.com. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  54. ^ "Kress Foundation | Trustees and Staff". www.kressfoundation.org. Archived from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  55. ^ "Speaker Details: Art Leaders Network 2018". www.nytartleadersnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  56. ^ "Yale SOM Board of Advisors". Yale School of Management. 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  57. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (26 June 2017). "As if He Isn't Busy Enough: Met Museum Head to Write Book". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  58. ^ "In That Time Daniel H. Weiss". Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  59. ^ "Haverford and Swarthmore Presidents Explore Change and Opportunity at Liberal Arts Colleges". Retrieved 2018-11-14.

External links[edit]

Academic offices
Preceded by President of Lafayette College
2006–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Haverford College
2013-2015 		Succeeded by
Cultural offices
Preceded by President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
2015–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
2017–present
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