DAVID BRENNEMAN Appointed as Telfair Museums’ New Executive Director & CEO
Savannah, GA – The distinguished Telfair Museums has announced Dr. David A. Brenneman as their new Director and CEO, effective from September 1, 2024. With extensive leadership experience in the museum sector and a fervent dedication to cultural preservation, Brenneman is poised to lead the Telfair Museums towards continued growth and deeper community engagement.
About Brenneman’s Previous Experience
Brenneman formerly held the position of Director at the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, where he oversaw the transformational $30 million renovation of the museum’s signature I. M. Pei building. He also navigated methods to make their substantial collection of over 45,000 works of art more accessible and engaging for the Indiana University community and residents of southern Indiana.
Prior to his directorship at the Eskenazi Museum of Art, he held various curatorial leadership roles at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA, serving as the Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the time of his departure in 2015. Brenneman’s rich and varied career includes significant institutional partnerships and honours, such as his work on Louvre Atlanta, which earned him the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres), one of France’s highest cultural honors, in 2008.
Additional Achievements
At Indiana University, Brenneman developed groundbreaking partnerships with Tsinghua University Art Museum in Beijing, China, and the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. His passion extends to building art collections, developing special exhibitions, and expanding the reach and impact of art museums as educational institutions.
Brenneman lead a 30-year career, during which he oversaw the acquisition of a wide variety of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary, and organized several special exhibitions. His work reached internationally renowned artists such as Claude Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Elizabeth Catlett, Julie Mehretu, Anila Agha, and Samuel Levi Jones, as well as highlights of the costume collection of the actor Glenn Close.
About Brenneman’s Education and Early Art Career
Brenneman studied art history at Penn State and obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Brown University. In his early career, he worked at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard and served as an Assistant Curator at the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven.
Brenneman’s Words on His New Role
Brenneman has expressed his excitement about his new role, stating “I am deeply honored and excited to lead Telfair Museums, Georgia’s oldest art museum, into its next chapter. The museums’ rich history, dedication to artistic excellence, and community impact present a remarkable opportunity. I look forward to collaborating with the staff, board, patrons, and the Savannah community to further enhance Telfair’s reputation as a cornerstone of cultural life in Georgia.”
Reaction from Telfair’s Board of Trustees
The Telfair’s Board of Trustees is delighted with this appointment. Josh Keller, Board Chairman, stated while expressing excitement regarding Brenneman’s appointment, “We are delighted to welcome David to Telfair Museums. David’s visionary leadership and proven track record make him the ideal leader to guide Telfair into the future.”
