SAM Announces Scott Stulen as New Director and CEO
We are thrilled to share the news, announced in The Seattle Times, that following an extensive international search, Scott Stulen has been chosen as the Seattle Art Museum’s new Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director and CEO. Scott, an innovative leader renowned for his dynamic vision and commitment to community engagement, will officially begin his new role at SAM on August 26, 2024.
Scott joins SAM with a distinguished career in the arts, bringing a wealth of experience from his previous roles as President and CEO of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and as the Director of mnartists.org, a critical arts writing platform of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“The SAM Board of Trustees search committee, in partnership with Russell Reynolds, searched extensively across the art museum field to find the best fit for our community. While gathering recommendations, Scott was mentioned by many others in the field, due to his reputation as an innovative arts leader, strong business acumen, and outstanding work in community engagement,” said Bert Valdman, SAM trustee and chair of the search committee.
During his tenure as leader of the Philbrook Museum of Art, Scott transformed the museum into a welcoming, inclusive, and family-friendly experience, resulting in exponential growth in both attendance and support. He secured a $10M gift in support of the museum campus’s first addition in over three decades, established a $16.5M contemporary art acquisition fund to diversify the collection, and overhauled the museum’s programming to center interactive, outdoor, and multi-generational fun and learning. In support of the broader community, Scott established a free membership program for all public-school teachers in Oklahoma and oversaw the planning of a 50,000 sq. ft. vegetable garden within the campus, providing over 1.5 tons of fresh produce each year to support communities of need.
Prior to joining the Philbrook, Scott was the inaugural Curator of Audience Experiences and Performance at the Indianapolis Museum of Art from 2014 to 2016, where he launched the ARTx program, commissioned new performances and site-specific installations, and launched new earned-income initiatives to welcome diverse audiences. From 2008 to 2014, he was Project Director of mnartists.org at the Walker Art Center, where he co-curated and developed the Open Field project, reframing the museum as a public park and platform for experimentation, including the first Internet Cat Video Festival.
Scott is also a practicing visual artist with an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Minnesota and a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He also DJs (spinning under the moniker MDL WST) and, along with wife Rachel, is raising two sons, Erlend (13) and Oliver (9).
“I am incredibly honored to be selected as the next CEO of the Seattle Art Museum. Seattle has always been a city I deeply admire, and the opportunity to lead such a renowned institution is beyond my wildest dreams. SAM’s three dynamic sites, talented and dedicated staff, and engaged board provide incredible opportunities to deepen our connections with the diverse communities we serve. As an artist, I approach things a bit differently, and I’m eager to bring this perspective to SAM along with my experience developing innovative and inclusive programs,” Scott shared. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Welcome to SAM and Seattle, Scott!
Photo credit: Bhadri Verduzco/Courtesy Philbrook Museum of Art