Concluding a wide-ranging national search, the Board of Directors of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum has unanimously voted to appoint Leslie Gordon, a native of Savannah and an acclaimed Atlanta cultural leader, as its new Executive Director. She will start on February 4, 2019.
Ms. Gordon has served as Director of the Rialto Center for Arts at Georgia State University since 2003. Under her leadership, the Rialto has evolved into a thriving international cultural center and a hub of multi-cultural activity.
“We are excited about Leslie’s proven leadership, her dynamism and her passion for the mission of The Breman,” said Lori Shapiro, Chair of the Board and the Search Committee. “We were seeking an inspiring leader to bring the vision of a Jewish cultural center to life. Leslie deeply understands the potential of The Breman, and she has the vision and proven ability to lead us into the future.”
“The Breman is poised for transformation and innovation,” Ms. Gordon says. “I’m excited to bring my roots in Jewish culture and the South, my passion for this work and my experience, to The Breman at this time.”
Prior to directing the Rialto Center, Ms. Gordon played leadership roles with the National Black Arts Festival, the Arts Festival of Atlanta, and the 1996 Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad. She is known as an architect of ideas and growth.
A current Rialto Board member describes Leslie Gordon as “an arts visionary, a businesswoman, a curator, a leader and a well-respected, strong and powerful voice in the region. She has high emotional intelligence and can work with anyone.”
The Breman Board conducted a comprehensive national search which reached some 300 individuals. “The Search Committee considered many good options,” Ms. Shapiro said. “We are thrilled to have chosen an extraordinary Atlanta cultural leader with Georgia roots. Together with The Breman Board and staff, Leslie will lead The Breman to achieve its next great opportunities.”
The Breman Museum, a preeminent cultural center in the Southeast, connects people of all backgrounds in understanding and appreciation of Jewish history, culture and arts. Its midtown Atlanta location hosts a permanent Holocaust exhibition highlighting the resilience of local survivors, plus comprehensive archives on Southern Jewish History, the most extensive of their kind. The museum’s galleries are a showcase for exclusive exhibitions and compelling displays. Known for its events, concerts, lectures, genealogy resources, educational workshops, and enlightening tours for visitors of all ages, the Breman Museum welcomes the public to view its
galleries Sunday through Thursday 10 AM – 5 PM and Friday 10 AM – 4 PM.
