Press

Media Contact:
Jaclyn Keegan
(518) 474-1201 
Press@nysed.gov 
www.nysed.gov 

My visit to the New York State Museum on March 25-26 confirmed my long-held view that it is one of the finest cultural and educational institutions in the country. The combination of a dedicated and experienced staff, extraordinary world-class collections, and an ideal setting within Albany’s state capital complex provide a wide range of resources for New Yorkers and visitors from around the world. The museum’s location in the Cultural Education Center with the State Archives and State Library offers many opportunities for collaboration. 

During my visit, I enjoyed meeting with staff from every office within the museum. From the curatorial teams to the research and educational staff, I was impressed by the experience, expertise, and personal passion they bring to their work. 

The national search for the next Museum Director has been met with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from museum leaders and prospective candidates nationwide. This outpouring of interest underscores the wide-reaching appeal and future promise of the New York State Museum, emphasizing its vital role in sparking curiosity and deepening cultural understanding across diverse communities. The next director will inherit a remarkable institution with enormous potential to fulfill its ambitious and inspiring mission to “serve the lifelong educational needs of New Yorkers and visitors through its collections, exhibitions, scholarship, programs, media, and publications in science, history, anthropology, and art.” 

In a few weeks, we will begin to interview a short list of finalists and continue this process until a new Museum Director has been selected. I am confident that through this rigorous search process, we will attract visionary leadership that will propel the museum into a new chapter of its illustrative history just in time to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary and the museum’s 50th anniversary in the Cultural Education Center in 2026. I am delighted to play a role in assisting the Education Department in this search and contribution to the continued evolution of a national treasure.

About the New York State Museum

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter. 

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