Jackie Adams joins Columbia Museum of Art as director of education & engagement

Jacqueline “Jackie” Adams, former lecturer and gallery director of the Goodall Gallery at Columbia College, has been chosen as the Columbia Museum of Art’s new director of education & engagement, a position previously held by Kerry Kuhlkin-Hornsby. Adams joined the CMA in mid-February.

As director of education & engagement, Adams will oversee educational programming, community outreach, and engagement initiatives for youth, students, schools, families, and adult audiences at the museum.

“Joining the innovative team at the CMA as it prepares to undergo major renovations offers the ability to introduce new ideas in the areas of arts education that will shape a premier teaching museum for all,” says Adams. “South Carolina is looking toward the future, and the capacity for the CMA to meet an individual’s lifelong learning needs holds great potential and opportunity – one that I am beyond thrilled to be an integral part of.”

Adams brings to the CMA her passion and talent for cultivating the critical connections among artists, arts, and audience. She has an extensive background in arts education with over 20 years’ experience teaching South Carolina students from kindergarten to college. Skilled at outreach and collaboration, Adams has a strong track record of fostering fruitful relationships between students and artists through which the community itself benefits. Through her leadership over the last 11 years, the Goodall Gallery program has grown to become a significant contributor to Columbia’s growing and vibrant arts scene. As creative director of Columbia College’s Georgia O’Keeffe Centennial, Adams facilitated dynamic partnerships among Columbia College, the CMA, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, SC Educational Television, and numerous other organizations and individuals.

“The CMA has built an award-winning arts education program and offers many successful engagement opportunities for adult and senior audiences,” says Joelle Ryan-Cook, CMA deputy director and director of external affairs. “I am proud of the work the very talented education and engagement department has achieved and also very excited to include Jackie’s fresh insight into the work we do. We were honored to work closely with Jackie during the Georgia O’Keeffe Centennial in 2015 and knew right away that she was exactly the right leader for this key position as we begin our renovation project this spring.”

For more information, visit columbiamuseum.org.