At the conclusion of its monthslong, nationwide search for a new executive director, the Contemporary Jewish Museum has selected a local museum leader someone so local, in fact, that he currently works around the corner at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Chad Coerver will leave his post as chief education and community engagement officer at SFMOMA to become CJM’s executive director on Sept. 1, the museum announced on July 21. Following the departure of Lori Starr last December, Kerry King has served as interim executive director and chief operating officer. She will stay on in the latter role.
“I think this is a great moment for the museum,” King told J. “We are coming out of a pandemic and moving forward stronger as a team, and now having this new excitement of Chad as a leader. I’m highly enthused and optimistic.”
It’s been over a year since Vic and Linda Milhoan were in a museum. This week, they were some of the first visitors to step foot in the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco since the pandemic forced it to close last year.
“It’s such an opportunity,” said Linda Milhoan, who’s been a member of the CJM for 10 years. “We’ve spent so much time online in the last year. We’re thrilled to be here in person right now.”
The CJM is now officially open to the public. After closing its doors last March, reopening in October, and then closing again in November due to reintroduced pandemic restrictions, the museum is finally able to welcome the Bay Area community back to see art in person that has only been available virtually for most of the year.