It was announced today that Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts director, Mattias Waschek, is stepping down from his post, which he’s held since 2003. He’ll will remain with the museum for the next six months or so as the institution undertakes a national search for his successor. The press release listed out several things Waschek achieved during his tenure, but some of our favorite things were the wonderful, interactive Light Project; the collaborations with the St. Louis Symphony; and the choice to hire a social worker, because it indicates a sincere commitment to community outreach efforts. Of course, Waschek also curated some brilliant exhibits, including Ideal (Dis) placements: Old Masters at the Pulitzer, and Stylus, a project by Ann Hamilton. He is quoted as saying that “the opportunity to shape a new institution is one that comes along at best once in a lifetime.” On the flip side, though, it’s not every day that a mid-size city like St. Louis finds itself with a museum director who spent 11 years at the Louvre. We’ll be holding our breath to see who will step into this role several months from now.
Looking back on a year of arts and culture stories
This year brought us new faces, new spaces, and plenty of great stories from St. Louis’ arts community.
