Kathryn Haigh

Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions—Indianapolis Museum of Art

A seasoned professional, Ms. Haigh became the Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions in 2010. In this capacity she manages all exhibitions and collections related activities including oversight of production schedules, contracts and budgets as well as administration of acquisitions, fine arts insurance and the collections management policy.  She is a member of the senior leadership team of the IMA and works on museum-wide initiatives such as strategic planning in tandem with the Director and the Board of Governors. She serves as the liaison to the Collections Committee. From 2007 to 2010 Ms. Haigh served as the Chief Registrar of IMA.  She also served as Chief Registrar of the Cincinnati Art Museum from 1998-2007.

Accomplishments include development of the Museum Property Act in the State of Ohio, implementation of collections management databases at both the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the completion of several successful grant funded storage re-housing projects, and the organization of numerous traveling exhibitions circulating nationally and internationally. Haigh studied Art History at the University of Cincinnati.  She has presented at national museum conferences and lectured on topics such as cultural patrimony, Nazi-War Era provenance, Filming and Photography Guidelines for Works of Art, Abandoned Cultural Property, Museum Registration Methods, and Legal Issues in Museum Administration.

About the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA)

Encompassing 152 acres of gardens and grounds, the Indianapolis Museum of Art is among the 10 largest encyclopedic art museums in the United States and features significant collections of African, American, Asian, European, and contemporary art, as well as a newly established collection of design arts. The IMA offers visitors an expansive view of arts and culture through its collection of more than 54,000 works of art that span 5,000 years of history from across the world’s continents. The collections include paintings, sculpture, furniture and design objects, prints, drawings, and photographs, as well as textiles and costumes.

Additionally, art, design, and nature are featured at 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park and Oldfields–Lilly House & Gardens, a historic Country Place Era estate on the IMA grounds. Beyond the Indianapolis campus, in May 2011 the IMA opened to the public the landmark Miller House and Garden in Columbus, Indiana. One of the country’s most highly regarded examples of mid-century Modernist residences, the Miller House was designed by Eero Saarinen, with interiors by Alexander Girard and landscape design by Dan Kiley.

Recognizing the IMA’s positive impact on its community, the Museum was named a 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Services – the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries. The IMA’s commitment to free general admission, programming for schools and teachers, environmental leadership, and online initiatives were among cited community contributions in the Museum’s selection for the award.

A transcription of Kathryn Haigh’s remarks at the Beauty and Belief press conference on November 30, 2011, are available here.