Since January, Megan Raikins Reich has been executive director of the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art.
After serving as interim director since mid-2020 when the museum’s last director, Jill Snyder, left the museum, Reich was promoted and has held the position for 10 months. Hired by the museum as a curatorial intern in 2004, Reich has moved through the museum’s ranks, holding roles such as Curator He Fellow, Education Director, Associate He Curator and Deputy Director. Since her hire, she has curated 34 exhibitions of hers at the museum.
Reich told the Cleveland Jewish News that his role as executive director is very similar to his role as interim executive director, but it feels different.
“My husband and I were together for seven years before we got married, and I was joking. People asked me if things would be different if I got married, and I really felt that it would be different.” said Reich, 43. She lives in Solon with her husband Dan, 13-year-old Piper, 11-year-old Jasper, and 8-year-old Sebastian. The couple met at Anise Field Day Camp, where Reich was the supervisor.
“So, in many ways, my job hasn’t changed at all, but it’s great to move through that uncertain phase and move forward with confidence.” , Reich said, all roles were “helpful” in developing a better understanding of how the museum operates.
“It’s funny, earlier this year we had a profit and one afternoon I was sitting in my office writing labels for auction pieces. That’s exactly what I did as an intern,” she recalls. To do. “Even then, I thought my experience as an intern was still important in some way.
She said her interest in working in museums was inspired by “a very specific opportunity,” referring to an undergraduate summer internship held at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy. One of the things she did there was protect her gallery, and she says her experience gave her insight into how audiences interacted with museums and museum employees. said.
“I found myself fascinated by the way museums, especially museums like moCa, create opportunities for interaction between artists, their art and audiences,” said Reich.
Over the past 10 months, Reich said he is most proud of the museum’s flexibility to respond to needs, interests and challenges that have arisen locally, nationally and sometimes internationally.
“I have worked with some excellent people and have seen so many innovative innovations that our staff are taking to embrace the process of being committed to change, learning, reflecting and adapting. “I am inspired by action,” she said.
Harnessing change and adaptability is something Reich wants to focus on, she said, especially in building a connection between moCa and the community.
“At the beginning of my tenure, I gave a presentation to the board and staff about the importance of love as it relates to our work,” she said. It’s a simple word, but it drives a lot of what happens from the point of view of the staff, the artists and the audience.Many of the reasons why someone creates the magical experiences at moCa and the ones you can have at moCa are because of that love and sharing. It’s about sensation.
“I hope that when people come here, it’s a sense of being together, of sharing, of being creative, of being interested in the world we live in through the lens of art. It’s a great way to understand what it means and how we all fit together in this crazy life.”
moCa is located at 11400 Euclid Avenue in the University Circle area of Cleveland.
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