MANCHESTER, NH – The Board of Trustees of the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH announces the resignation of Karen Graham, who has dedicated 18 years of exemplary service to the institution. Graham joined the Currier in 2006 as Director of Human Resources and went on to hold roles as Director of Operations and Deputy Director & COO. Since April 2023, Graham has served as the Interim Executive Director, guiding the museum through a challenging time with unwavering commitment and leadership.
Graham’s tenure at the Currier has been marked by her passion for art and education, her innovative approach to museum programming and events, and her dedication to community engagement. Most notably, the museum added successful events including the Annual Summer Block Party, which draws upward of 2000 people for a free family day in the galleries with music, dance, and community art-making activities; the Currier’s masked ball for the Toulouse Lautrec exhibition; and the Studio 54 Dance Party to celebrate the video works of Andy Warhol. Last April, the 2024 Annual Gala and Fundraiser achieved unprecedented success, setting a new benchmark for the future.
Graham is credited with leading the Currier through the difficult covid years. During that time, she led a major classroom renovation project of the lower level of the museum. Graham cultivated relationships with Governor Sununu and Swim With a Mission, a NH not-for-profit dedicated to raising money for veterans organizations, to fund that project and help expand the Currier’s Art and Wellness initiatives, particularly the Art for Vets program, which has now more than doubled the number of veterans served over the last year and a half.
Steve Duprey, President of the Board of Trustees of the Currier, thanked Graham: “Karen has served the Currier for almost two decades, through some challenging and rewarding times, and her dedication and devotion to the Currier mission has touched the lives of thousands of people in New Hampshire who have experienced our art and programs. The Currier uses art to enrich and make people’s lives better and Karen played a huge role in making that happen. That is a remarkable legacy, and we are deeply grateful for her service.”
In 2022, Graham directed the museum’s decennial reaccreditation process by the American Alliance of Museums, validating the excellence of the Currier’s operations and impact. Under her leadership, the museum has seen significant growth in its exhibitions and outreach. It launched an unprecedented fifteen exhibitions over the last eighteen months with Chief Curator Lorenzo Fusi. All these exhibitions have included well-attended tours, educational programming, and community outreach programs.
Graham expressed gratitude for her long career at the museum, stating, “Leading the Currier Museum of Art over the last several years has been the biggest honor of my life. It has been my pleasure to work with our amazingly talented and dedicated team, and I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I look forward to seeing the museum continue its positive trajectory under Jordana Pomeroy’s leadership.”
