DAYTON, OHIO.- The Dayton Art Institute’s Board of Trustees announced today the appointment of David R. Brigham as the museum’s Director and CEO. Brigham, who has been the Executive Director of the Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania since 2002, succeeds Alex Nyerges, who resigned last year to become Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

In accepting the position, David Brigham said, “The Dayton Art Institute is recognized nationally for its outstanding collections, exhibitions and educational programs. I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the board, staff and volunteers to build on that distinguished history.”

According to Joseph A. Zehenny, chairman of The Dayton Art Institute’s Board of Trustees and chairman of the Search Committee for a new director, “All of us on the Search Committee were impressed with David’s energy, work ethic, knowledge of art and understanding of business. Everyone we spoke with about David said that he was an outstanding collaborator who believes passionately in making the art museum accessible and relevant to the entire community. We believe that David’s insights will be important as we refine our vision for the future of The Dayton Art Institute.”

Willis “Bing” Davis, a member of the Art Institute’s Search Committee, said, “The Dayton-Miami Valley community is fortunate to be able to attract a director who is not only highly skilled, but is also blessed with creative visions and a documented commitment to inclusion.”

John Haddick, another Search Committee member, said, “As an active member of The Dayton Art Institute since the early 1960s, I am delighted to have David as our new Director and CEO because he clearly is a person who puts words into action. He is a ‘people person,’ art scholar and visionary who will make the Art Institute and the Dayton community better because of his presence.”

Other members of the Search Committee included: Claire Renzetti, Richard Scott, Michael Greitzer, Robert Nevin, Sam Warwar, James Dicke II, Dianne Komminsk, and Brad Tillson, ex-officio.

Prior to becoming Executive Director of the Allentown Art Museum, Brigham was on staff at the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA, where he served as Director of Collections and Exhibitions, and before that, Curator of American Art.

Brigham’s record of achievements in both Allentown and Worcester includes organizing special exhibitions, expanding the permanent collection, building audience and membership, fundraising, and overseeing the renovation and expansion of existing facilities.

Brigham is a published author of more than 20 book-length projects, catalogues, articles, essays, and book reviews. He wrote the exhibition catalogue for American Impressionism: Paintings of Promise at the Worcester Art Museum and co-authored the online catalogue for Early American Paintings in the Worcester Art Museum. His book, Public Culture in the Early Republic: Peale’s Museum and Its Audience, was published in 1995 by Smithsonian Institution Press.

Brigham has an M.A. and Ph.D. in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Connecticut.

Brigham will begin as Director and CEO on August 20 after moving to the Dayton area with his wife of 17 years, Holly Trostle Brigham, and their two children, son Noble (who turns 6 in September) and daughter Flora (who turns 2 in August). Brad Tillson will continue to serve as the museum’s Interim Director.