The Rochester Art Center has appointed Shannon Fitzgerald as their new Executive Director. Fitzgerald has extensive experience as a curator and museum professional, previously serving as Chief Curator at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. The RAC Board of Directors believes Fitzgerald's background in contemporary art and passion for community engagement will help the Art Center sustain its reputation for exhibitions and programming and increase involvement with local communities. Fitzgerald expressed excitement to build upon the RAC's accomplishments and commitment to excellence.

1. PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Naura Anderson | Public Programs & Marketing Director
507-424-3318 | nanderson@rochesterartcenter.org
Stephen Troutman | President, RAC Board of Directors
s.troutman@alumni.usc.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2012
Rochester, MN – Rochester Art Center appoints Shannon Fitzgerald as Executive Director
The Rochester Art Center Board of Directors is delighted to announce the appointment of Shannon Fitzgerald as
the Art Center’s new Executive Director. “Shannon has deep roots in the contemporary art world and a passion for
community. We feel confident that under her leadership, we will sustain the Art Center’s reputation for world class art
exhibitions and programming.” said Stephen Troutman, Board President and Chair of the Search Committee. “And
Shannon will lead us to new levels of engagement within the Rochester communities, a key part of our mission,”
continued Troutman. Following an extensive national search, several finalist were identified and interviewed including
candidates from Rochester. She will begin her tenure on July 9, 2012.
“I am thrilled to be joining Rochester Art Center and delighted for
the opportunity to work with such a dynamic and loyal Board of
Directors and talented staff. I look forward to building upon the
many accomplishments of the Center in fulfilling and advancing
its mission to achieve an even higher level of excellence and
impact” said Fitzgerald. She continues “Rochester Art Center
is truly a vital part of the community and boasts a robust and
innovative exhibition and education program. I am honored
to begin my work on deepening the Art Center’s commitment
to Rochester and the region, while also broadening its reach,
visibility, and participation in the international arts community.”
Shannon Fitzgerald is a distinguished contemporary art curator, museum professional, writer, and educator whose
highly acclaimed work focuses on international emerging and mid-career artists and thinkers. She has produced
original exhibitions, projects, and essays with a prestigious roster of artists including Polly Apfelbaum, Radcliffe
Bailey, Michael Paul Britto, Jill Downen, Dzine, Yun-Fei Ji, Larry Krone, Michael Lin, Julie Moos, Zwelethu Mthethwa,
Karyn Olivier, Ruby Osorio, Keith Piper, William Pope.L, Liz Rodda, Allison Schulnik, Mary Ann Strandell, Catharina
van Eetvelde, and Marina Zurkow, among others.
She was formerly Chief Curator at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) where she oversaw the exhibition
and publication programs. At CAM, she conceptualized and co-curated the inaugural and traveling exhibition A
Fiction of Authenticity: Contemporary Africa Abroad (with Tumelo Mosaka) which launched the museum’s program in
its new building. The exhibition included new commissioned projects by artists Siemon Allen, Fatma Charfi, Godfried
40 Civic Center Drive SE | Rochester, MN 55904 USA ph 507-282-8629 fax 507-282-7737 www.rochesterartcenter.org

2. Donkor, Mary Evans, Meschac Gaba, Kendell Geers, Moshekwa Langa, Ingrid Mwangi, Odili Donald Odita, Owusu-
Ankomah, and Zenib Sedira. During her tenure, Fitzgerald also developed education and community outreach
initiatives, planned public lectures and symposia, oversaw a national visiting curator & critic series, and created an
international and national artist-in-residence program.
Before joining CAM in St. Louis, Fitzgerald held a curatorial appointment at the Institute of Visual Arts (Inova), at
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she participated in its ambitious and groundbreaking international
Kunsthalle-style programming that featured many of the most significant artists in the field. She has taught art
history at Webster University (St. Louis, MO), the University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond, OK), and Columbus
State University (Columbus, GA) as the 2010 Visiting Scholar-in-Residence. She earned her master’s degree in Art
History and Museum Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Milwaukee) and her Bachelor’s degree in
Art History from Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Boston).
Fitzgerald has generated new scholarship, commissioned critical essays from leading scholars, and edited numerous
museum publications. She has published many essays on the work of contemporary artists and has contributed
to the art journals ART PAPERS, Bootprint, Review Magazine, and Art21:Blog. She is the Lead Mentor for the
Oklahoma Art Writing & Curatorial Fellowship, a program she co-developed for the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition,
Oklahoma City, that works to advance critical art writing and contemporary curatorial practice in the region.
About Rochester Art Center
Vision
To be a cultural center for innovation and creativity through contemporary art.
Mission
The Rochester Art Center offers the opportunity for all people to understand and value the arts through innovative
experiences with contemporary art. Through world-class exhibitions and programs, we present a welcoming,
integrated, and diverse experience that encourages questioning, creativity, and critical thinking. These exhibitions
and programs are designed to reflect the dynamic relationship between art and society. They educate, challenge,
and connect individuals to our world in compelling new ways. We are committed to being a cultural center in our
community and to enhancing our region as a destination for creativity and innovation. We provide value through
engagement with broad communities, strong collaborations with other organizations, and a history of excellence.
40 Civic Center Drive SE | Rochester, MN 55904 USA ph 507-282-8629 fax 507-282-7737 www.rochesterartcenter.org