San Jose Museum of Art's new executive director wants to take institution to another level

"I'm passionate about the collection, about the programming of the institution and its position as a museum that's dedicated to the region, to the people of San Jose and Silicon Valley, he said. I really believe that art and culture and civic engagement should go hand-in-hand and when you have that kind of public support for a cultural institution."

"A city like San Jose and a region like the Bay Area and a state like California is very global, he said. It's connected to culture all over the world, and I think combining that uniqueness with global influences that are already present in the area is a perfect mix for a fresh, contemporary institution."

Jeremiah Matthew Davis, 42, becomes Oshman executive director and CEO of the San Jose Museum of Art on Oct. 1 and will be introduced publicly Oct. 18. Davis spent over nine years at Oklahoma Contemporary, where he served as artistic director and director and oversaw major growth including a new building and an increase in attendance from 10,000 to 80,000 visitors. Davis aims to continue the museum without walls initiative, strengthen collection and programming, and foster civic engagement and public support. He plans more large-scale installations downtown and wants to leverage San Jose's multicultural, globally connected region for contemporary programming.

Read at www.mercurynews.com