Mrs. HSIEH SuChen the former Director of the Today Art Museum announced her resignation on Monday August 12, 2013. Meanwhile, Alex Gao has been appointed as the Executive Director, and is now in charge of all kinds of work within the museum.

　　

Alex Gao entered the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2000. He later studied as an exchange student at the Tama Art University in Japan and Hongik University in South Korea. He joined the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) in 2004, in which he was appointed as project manager, heading the torch relay,core graphic and sport icons of the Olympic. He continued to work in the Cultural Events Department of BOCOG as image and identity manger in 2007. In September 2008, Alex Gao decided to continue his academic career and doctorate at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. In 2010, he went to the University of the Arts in London as a doctoral visiting scholar, and was then elected to join the “Arts Management Professional Development Programme 2012” of the British Council, the “Arts Management Professional Development Programme 2013” of Goethe-Insititute of China, and was specially invited to go to the America by the United States Embassy as a Cultural Envoy in 2013. With his extensive experience in planning hundreds of contemporary art exhibitions in China and across the globe, Alex Gao was officially assigned the Executive Director of the Today Art Museum on August 12nd, 2013.

　　

　　Alex Gao answers a few questions regarding the museum management.

　　

　　Q: What is the reason that the former Director Hsieh SuChen took urgent leave after 10-month working with the Today Art Museum?

　　A: During her tenure with us we found her to be quite hardworking. She resigned due to personal reasons.

　　

　　Q: Will the International 22nd Art Palace renovation project be suspended due to Mrs. Hsieh’s leave?

　　A: The International 22nd Art Palace renovation project will not be suspended due to changes in personnel. The renovation project has borne fruit during the past year, the occupancy rate has increased by 20% compared to the year ago . From the perspective of long-run development, the International 22nd Art Palace renovation project is not likely to change. However, some adjustments may be necessary in the execution of some projects. 

　　

　　Q: How do you think the current situation of the Today Art Museum？

　　A: As a forerunner of Chinese privately owned art museums, the Today Art Museum has been up and running for a decade and set the pattern for the entire industry during a severe period of unstable growth of Chinese contemporary art. However, the Today Art Museum is facing with a lot of challenges in the near future, as other Chinese privately owned art museums are. Currently, the Today Art Museum is in the midst of transformation. During this period, we need community’s understanding and supports. As a non-profit art organization, the Today Art Museum is dedicated to arts education in the community.

　　

　　Q: How will you respond to the decrease in sponsorship while the maintenance of the museum is expensive?

　　A: It is true that we are facing with a decrease in sponsorship, but it is impossible to fix overnight, because the global economy is experiencing a recovery. It is important for us to take a longer view. Objectively speaking, many top brands, national and international, are willing to support the arts, and they pay close attention to what’s going on in our organization.  We will keep focusing on exhibitions to provide a platform for communication between artists and corporations.

　　 

　　Q: As the youngest post-80s executive director, what strength do you think you possess?

　　A: I’m not only representing myself, but also a younger generation who experienced relatively prosperous country and well-to-do families, and had the opportunities to get higher education and broaden their vision.  Thanks to the rapid development of the country, young people of our generation are able to get larger footholds to develop their careers. Inevitably, due to lack of experience and contacts, we need time to stretch and grow. We will appreciate any support from the art circle.

　　

　　Q: What are your considerations when building the new management team?

　　A: The management team consists of two sections.

　　The board of directors and the academic council : we will invite directors, curators and artists of major institutions all over the world, and elite from various background to join the team of consultants. The board of directors and the academic council are going to set up management and artistic strategies for the museum.

　　The operating team: we are trying to attract talented young people with oversea study experience or working experience to build a professional and standardized operating team. The current associate director Gao Yi was the director of arts and culture program of Beijing Goethe Institute. Nie Xiaojin of education department worked in the educational program in UCCA. Besides, I’m making contact with professionals of U.S. institutions to join our team. Many of our colleagues were graduated from overseas universities, who are more motivated, professional, and energized. Their influx is an infusion of fresh blood to the Today Art Museum. 

　　 

　　Q: What is the blueprint for the museum’s future development? 

　　A: Professionalization, globalization and socialization are the overall goals of the Today Art Museum. Professionalization is to put an emphasis on academic proficiency, improve proficiency of academic research, increase the diversity of the curators team and reinforce the standardization of management. Globalization is reflected in the aspects of bringing Chinese artists to the international stage, having more international cultural exchanges, introducing outstanding foreign exhibitions, and directly recruiting international talents. In addition, as a non-profit organization, the Today Art Museum aims at promoting public welfare and community development, and will achieve a diverse board of directors step by step.