WASHINGTON, DC.- International Arts & Artists’ Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Lise Dubé-Scherr as its new president and CEO, succeeding the organization’s founder, David Furchgott. Dubé-Scherr assumed her role as president on January 22, 2019, following her tenure as the director of museum affairs for The Preservation Society of Newport County (Newport Mansions).
“Lise Dubé-Scherr stood out among a pool of exceptional candidates. We are pleased she will lead IA&A into the future, building on the outstanding work of Founder David Furchgott,” says Board President Dave Feinstein. “In Lise, IA&A has found a seasoned entrepreneurial leader who will advance the organization’s local, national, and international visibility, reach and impact.”
A native of Canada, Dubé-Scherr brings over 27 years of museum experience from notable American and Canadian art museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal, and the Allentown Art Museum. From 2011-2017, she served as the executive director of The Richard H. Driehaus Museum in Chicago, where—in addition to her exceptional work in growing the museum’s visitation and expanding its public programming—she established its fine and decorative arts exhibition program. Additionally, Dubé-Scherr was instrumental in developing a relationship between IA&A and the Driehaus; as their executive director, she was an originating partner with IA&A for three of its traveling exhibitions, and spoke eloquently about the successful collaboration at a 2018 panel at the American Alliance of Museums.
“International Arts & Artists’ mission requires an experienced and invigorating guiding hand,” says founder David Furchgott. “It is always reassuring to know your successor is as passionate and committed to the organization, and Lise certainly is. Lise’s presence provides me with the confidence that the institution we’ve built over the past 24 years will increase its public value and continue to grow and serve the arts community.”
Dubé-Scherr was selected from a highly qualified pool of candidates following an extended international search, having proved herself an energetic and talented advocate for IA&A’s mission of improving cross-cultural understanding through the arts. Her many years of international museum experience have also shown her to be a dynamic and effective leader, well equipped to guide IA&A into its next chapter.
“I am delighted and honored to succeed IA&A’s Founder David Furchgott and to lead an exceptional team of talented professionals,” says Dubé-Scherr. “While I have spent my career working to create meaningful connections between people and art, IA&A’s mission allows me to truly deepen and expand that impact globally through our four service areas—traveling exhibitions, cultural exchange opportunities, design studio, and our gallery, IA&A at Hillyer in Washington, DC.”
International Arts & Artists is deeply indebted to its former president and founder David Furchgott, who built and led the organization with creativity and grace for 25 years. He will continue to serve IA&A in an advisory capacity.
