Nick Nelson has accomplished many things throughout his artistic career as a portrait artist, art educator and festival coordinator. As the new director of the Springfield Art Museum, he plans to draw on all of those experiences to help him shape the future of the museum.
Thinking back to his time as a university art instructor and creator of interactive displays for a natural history museum, Nelson says the course of his career probably would have surprised a younger version of himself.
“I think if you would have told me I would have been working as director of an art museum then, I don’t think I would have believed you,” he says.
But it fits in well with his commitment to making the visual arts more accessible to the public. “That’s something I’ve been very passionate about,” Nelson says.
Since assuming his role as director in mid-2012, Nelson has already implemented a number of changes at the museum. Layouts and exhibits are changing, one gallery has been converted for more educational use and Nelson has created a laundry list of things he hopes to accomplish in the coming months, including closer collaboration with other arts groups, developing new programs and putting the museum’s auditorium and amphitheater to better use.
“I want us to look at the visitor experience from the time they walk in the door until the time they leave,” Nelson says. “What is that experience? What are we trying to give them? What message are we sending?”
Perhaps the biggest question is, “How are we going to use all the resources we have to accomplish that,” Nelson says.
Nelson says visitors can look forward to more moveswa as time goes on.
“I think over 2013, 2014 and into the future, you’re going to see a lot of changes. I’d like to see in the future a reinstallation of our permanent collection,” he says. Other projects may also include improvements to the building and grounds.
“It’s just a really exciting time because we have the opportunity to reinvent the organization and transform it physically and within the way we operate,” Nelson says.
Growth, however, is never without challenges.
“There are standard challenges that every museum faces, from raising money to dealing with facilities. When I look at what this organization has and the opportunities that it has, the challenges don’t seem that pressing.
“The challenge may just be pacing ourselves in going through all of these changes. It’s an exciting time and we’re just moving forward with it,” Nelson says.
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