Kelly Shindler Appointed Executive Director of The Fabric Workshop and Museum
The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) has announced the appointment of Kelly Shindler as its new Executive Director, effective September 23, 2024. Shindler brings over 20 years of experience in curating, storytelling, fundraising, and grantmaking, having worked with renowned institutions such as MASS MoCA, Art21, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, and most recently, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
A New Chapter for FWM
Shindler’s appointment follows an extensive nationwide search, and the Board of Directors is confident she is the perfect fit for FWM. Maja Paumgarten, FWM Board President, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Kelly Shindler is a dynamic professional with a breadth of experience and deep knowledge of Philadelphia and our program. She is a fierce advocate for cultural relevance and inclusivity and a trusted partner of the diverse communities that her organizations serve. Kelly will position FWM to be innovative and entrepreneurial, building on its storied history of artist collaborations.”
Shindler steps into the role following the tenure of Harry Philbrick, who has served as FWM’s Interim Executive Director since March 2023. Philbrick will depart as the transition is completed in September.
Shindler’s Vision and Experience
Kelly Shindler joins FWM after eight years at The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, where she served as Director of Exhibitions & Public Interpretation. Shindler emphasized her commitment to preserving and nurturing FWM’s unique artistic paradigm, stating, “With the Studio as its beating heart, FWM has brilliantly realized the dreams of many influential artists and shared them with broad audiences. I am proud to honor Kippy Stroud’s visionary legacy while guiding this beloved institution into its next meaningful chapter.”
Throughout her career, Shindler has been a champion of artists and a strong advocate for inclusivity. At The Pew Center, she played a key role in designing and implementing a $10.2 million COVID-19 recovery fund for Philadelphia’s cultural sector. This initiative provided crucial support to arts organizations, enabling them to stabilize operations, develop new programming approaches, and deepen their commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. Shindler also contributed to the Philadelphia Cultural Treasures Project Grants, a collaborative fund supporting BIPOC-led organizations and artists in Philadelphia.
A Legacy of Curatorial Excellence
Before her time at The Pew Center, Shindler served as Associate Curator at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis from 2011 to 2016. During her tenure, she organized nearly 30 solo and group exhibitions featuring artists at various stages of their careers, including Deana Lawson, Tala Madani, Sheila Hicks, and Nicole Eisenman. Her efforts in securing over $300,000 in support significantly expanded the museum’s organizational and individual fundraising.
Shindler’s earlier experience includes a multifaceted tenure at Art21, Inc., where she played a vital role in the development of the critically acclaimed docuseries Art:21—Art in the Twenty-First Century. As the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Art21 Blog, she created an arts writing incubator that nurtured the careers of numerous journalists and curators.
Looking Ahead
As The Fabric Workshop and Museum approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, the institution is poised for an exciting future under Shindler’s leadership. Her extensive experience, commitment to artistic excellence, and passion for inclusivity position her to lead FWM into its next chapter with innovation and vision.
Maja Paumgarten expressed her gratitude to Harry Philbrick for his leadership during the transition and shared her excitement for the future, saying, “We’re enthusiastic about our future with Kelly at the helm.”
Kelly Shindler’s appointment marks a new era for The Fabric Workshop and Museum, one that promises to build on its rich legacy while embracing new opportunities for artistic collaboration and community engagement.
Image: Kelly Shindler has been named Executive Director of The Fabric Workshop and Museum. Photo credit: Constance Mensh.
