Plains Art Museum Announces Leadership Transition, Names Interim Director
Press Release
For Immediate Release (May 2023)
Fargo, North Dakota – Plains Art Museum announces the departure of Andrew (Andy) Maus, who has served as its Director & CEO for over seven years. Maus leaves the Museum in wonderful positions, both financially and operationally, that will allow it to flourish as it enters its next chapter.
Mark Henze, long-time Plains Art Museum Chief Financial Officer, has been named the Museum’s Interim Director. Henze is a known commodity familiar with the Museum’s goals and operations, and no one is better prepared assist the Museum in this transition. A national search committee is in place to fill the permanent role of the Museum’s next Director & CEO.
“We look forward to introducing the next leader of the Museum to our best-in-region art collection, our community, our donors and our deep roots. We have so much gratitude for Andy and the work he has done, and we are perfectly positioned to bring in a top-notch leader to continue the good work that is happening at the Plains,” Katie Itterman, chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Plains Art Museum, said in a statement.
Maus has been named as the Executive Director of the Tacoma Art Museum in Tacoma, Washington. Plains Art Museum, and the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo community, wish Maus and his family the best.
“It has been a remarkable honor for me to lead the art museum that first sparked my love of museums when I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in 1998. We’ve never been in a better place operationally than we are at right now, with a fresh and supported vision of the future and an amazing staff. I would like to extend my gratitude to the community for being so welcoming and supportive,” said Maus about his departure.
Plains Art Museum is the largest art museum in the Dakotas and Western Minnesota. It is general admission free and educationally-focused thanks to strong and growing support from over 800 households and businesses. The Museum manages a permanent collection of over 4,000 objects, organizes and presents dozens of annual exhibitions, facilitates public art projects, and leads over 200 educational programs and experiences for all ages each year. The Museum and its Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity are located at 704 First Avenue North in downtown Fargo. For more information about visiting or supporting your art museum, visit plainsart.org.