HOPE MCMATH
One
of
US
Hope McMath wants art to be accessible to
everyone and to bring communities together. As executive director of the Cummer Museum of Art and
Gardens, she is much closer to making sure those
things are possible.
McMath, a Jacksonville native and Jacksonville
University graduate, has been involved with the
Cummer for over 15 years in various positions and
has held her current title for the last three years.
“I’ve worn a lot of hats here, and all of them have
been fun,” she said.
A practicing artist herself — she and husband
Barry Wilson, an art teacher at Douglas Anderson
School of the Arts, have a printmaking studio in
their home — she has a deep appreciation for all
forms of art. However, McMath is particularly passionate about educating and connecting the community through art.
McMath spoke with The Register about her job
at the Cummer and the role art plays on the First
Coast. To learn more about the Cummer and upcoming exhibits, visit www.cummer.org.
How did you become director? What do you
do in that role at The Cummer Museum?
I started working at the museum 17 years ago on
a part-time basis in education while I was pursuing
my graduate degree at Jacksonville University. Most
of my time at the museum has been in education: I
served as the director of education before moving
into the deputy director role and became executive director three years ago. It’s unusual that I came
from education because most directors come from
a curatorial background.
In my current role, I want to carry forward my
love of education and passion for making the arts
accessible for everyone, from children to older
adults. My goal is to create a program of art, gardens
and education that is relevant to anyone.
Why do you think the arts are so important?
The arts are important for their own sake —
when we think of any culture in any time period,
we remember what was left behind by artists,
whether it’s paintings or literature. That’s what really
stamps the greatness of any community.
&:,:89s8*59*2'*7| +.789(4&897*,.89*7
Photo provided by the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens