BENTONVILLE, AR.- Museum officials at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced today that Virginia Germann has joined the museum’s senior staff as the Director of Museum Relations. She began her duties April 20 and will report directly to Sandy Edwards, Crystal Bridges’ Associate Director.

In this newly created position, Germann will be responsible for the strategic design and implementation of a communications plan for all areas of museum relations. In the immediate future, this includes ongoing communications regarding construction progress, programming at the Crystal Bridges at the Massey and education outreach programs. Germann will also serve as the primary media contact for Crystal Bridges. One of Germann’s key tasks will be to develop a membership plan that meets the needs of the local, regional, national, and even international communities that the museum will serve. As the museum’s opening approaches, she will develop public information programs to promote the museum’s mission among its stakeholders and a comprehensive program for facilities usage.

“We are very pleased to have attracted the talent of Virginia Germann,” said Edwards. “Her extensive experience in the private sector and museum management uniquely positions her to build the museum relations program.”

“I am so inspired by the vision for Crystal Bridges and I look forward to being a part of the Northwest Arkansas community,” said Germann. “I am truly honored to be on the Crystal Bridges team as we work toward a successful opening and on-going contribution to the community.”

Germann brings more than 15 years of communications and marketing experience to the museum relations division. Prior to accepting the Crystal Bridges position, she served as the Director of Marketing, Sales and Communications for Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, Calif. She was responsible for the communications, public relations, and marketing efforts related to the museum when it opened in 2002 as well as subsequent openings of the Park’s Sundial Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, in 2004 and arboretum and botanical gardens in 2005.

Germann also has extensive experience in consumer products marketing, having worked for Mars, Inc. – Masterfoods, USA for nine years. During her tenure at Mars, she volunteered and served on an executive loan assignment for Pretend City, a new children’s museum in Irvine, Calif., that is expected to open this year.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University of North Texas.