Eleanor D. Wilson Museum Welcomes New Director

Eleanor D. Wilson Museum Welcomes New Director

Administration, Fine Arts

March 16, 2015

Eleanor D. Wilson Museum Welcomes New Director Jenine Culligan

The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University has named Jenine Culligan, senior curator at the Huntington Museum of Art in Huntington, West Virginia, as its new director. She begins her duties May 4.

Culligan has been with the Huntington Museum of Art since 1999, and oversees daily operations for a collection of over 15,000 objects as well as four permanent and six rotating galleries. She works directly with collectors, individual artists, artist groups, interns, volunteers, art gallery directors, donors, advisory and board committees, and colleagues across the United States.

“I enjoy being the catalyst that brings talented people and innovative programs together,” she said. “I would like to share my experiences, and knowledge of museums, art, and artists, with a new generation, and with their help, explore new and different modes of offering authentic, cross-disciplinary approaches to experiencing art.

“I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with a community of educators to bring high-quality exhibits, programs, and events to Hollins, which would attract and engage a diverse audience within the university, the Roanoke community, western Virginia, and beyond.”

Culligan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Arts degree in art history/museum studies from Case Western Reserve University. Prior joining the Huntington Museum of Art, she worked with the Delaware Art Museum and the University of Kentucky Art Museum.

The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University features the work of renowned, emerging, and regional artists. The museum presents exhibitions in a wide variety of media and genres, including selected exhibitions from the permanent collection. Through this programming, the museum provides a forum for art through viewing, dialogue, and an understanding of the creative process. Located on the first floor of the Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center, the museum is a state-of-the-art facility with three interconnected galleries totaling approximately 4,000 square feet of exhibition space.

The Wilson Museum is committed to educational programming that enriches both Hollins and the greater Roanoke community. Since opening in the fall of 2004, the museum has presented more than 100 exhibitions with supplementary programs including tours, lectures, workshops, gallery talks, and classroom instruction.