The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum announced today that Robert A. Kret has been appointed director of the museum, and will start on Oct. 26. Since 2000, Mr. Kret has served as director of the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga.

Anne Marion, founder and chairman of the board, made the announcement this morning in Santa Fe. The O'Keeffe Museum was assisted in the national search by Naree Viner of Gary Kaplan & Associates.

“The Chattanooga community, Museum staff, Board of Trustees and I are very sad to see Rob Kret leave the Hunter,” said Sam Turner, president. “We are grateful for the leadership that Rob provided during his nine years here. He took the Hunter “off the hill” and made it a much more active member of the community, growing audiences, programming and partnerships. We wish Rob and his family the best,” said Mr. Turner.

While at the Hunter, Mr. Kret led the expansion and renovation of the museum that earned numerous design awards and national acclaim. The building was designed by Randall Stout, Santa Monica, as part of Chattanooga’s 21st Century Waterfront Plan.

He played an active role in the development of the Normal Park Museum Magnet School and is a strong advocate for the role of museums as partners in the education community.

He also excels at developing and encouraging partnerships and collaborations, it was stated. Along with the Tennessee Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum, the Hunter was recently recognized by the Lodestar Foundation, Phoenix, as one of the best non-profit collaborations in the country.

Under his leadership, the operating budget, the number of staff and total visitation at the Hunter has doubled, officials said. There has also been significant progress in changing the audience to better reflect the diversity of the Chattanooga community.

Mrs. Anne Marion, founder and chair of the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum stated, "We are delighted to find someone of Rob's obvious talent and we are sure that he will be a great addition to the Santa Fe art community."

“I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to work with the Board and staff to lead the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum during the next phase of its development. I look forward to joining the team of an institution with a national and international reputation that focuses on the work of an icon in American art and has the vision to expand the visitors understanding of modernism,” said Mr. Kret.

“The O’Keeffe has a lot to offer. There is an engaged, supportive and committed Board of Trustees and a very talented staff. It has a substantial collection, a proven track record in producing scholarly publications, a well-regarded research center, ambitious exhibitions and innovative education programs. All of this in Santa Fe, one of the leading arts communities in the country,” Mr. Kret added.

Mr. Kret previously served as director at a number of institutions including: the Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, Ohio; the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin; the Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, Michigan; and the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in Boston.