Della with Chihuly
Della Watkins, the new director of the Columbia Museum of Art, will speak on “Art and Why I Like It” at our May 4, 2018 meeting. The meeting will be held at the Main St. United Methodist Church, 1830 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201, hosted by Chef Walker.
Della Watkins officially took the helm as executive director of the Columbia Museum of Art on October 1, 2017.
After 14 years of working as an art educator, Watkins began her career in museum education at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, where she held successively more senior roles during her 16-year tenure. Watkins joined the Taubman Museum of Art in 2013. Under her leadership, the museum completed build-out of the last remaining gallery space that now hosts major national traveling exhibitions, reclaimed financial stability through steady fundraising, and forged new collegial partnerships in Roanoke and beyond to champion the region’s arts and culture community.
“With the completion of its renovation next year, the Columbia Museum of Art is poised to take an even greater leadership role as a vibrant local and statewide arts and education powerhouse,” says Watkins. “I look forward to working tirelessly to get to know the community, grow membership, friends, donors, business supporters, colleagues, and partners. Together, we’ll ensure that the CMA is a proud and lively cultural arts destination for everyone in South Carolina and beyond.”