When Marion Grzesiak learned that the Jersey City Museum was seeking a director, she knew one thing – she wanted the job.
Having spent most of her adult life working for historical museums, Grzesiak had prepared herself to oversee the 30,000 square-foot complex that houses over 20,000 works of art. "The museum has a wonderful reputation," Grzesiak said. "It has a good solid reputation in presenting contemporary cutting-edge art and cultural diversity. These are all things that are important to me as well."
Her hiring ends months of administrative mayhem since the former executive director was fired in May. Although the specific reasons for firing Nina Jacobs were never detailed, the board of trustees had previously said that employee relations was a key issue. Her dismissal came shortly after the museum relocated from its long-time location at the top floor of the Jersey City Library’s Main Branch on Jersey Avenue to its own $6.3 million home on 350 Montgomery St.
Lacking an executive director since then has cost the museum money, including a grant that had been received in the past from the Geraldine K. Dodge Foundation. Last year, the museum received $125,000 from the Dodge foundation. But the problems arising in the wake of Jacobs’ firing led the foundation to withhold the grant this year.
The museum runs on $1.5 million budget each year, with $500,000 coming directly from Jersey City. The remaining funds come from grants and private donations. As executive director, Grzesiak must juggle the responsibilities of managing a museum while tending to the fundraising duties that keep the museum running. She said she is confident that the Dodge foundation grant will return to the museum next year.
Born and raised in Queens, Grzesiak has been a New Jersey resident for the past 25 years, now residing in Mountainside. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kean University and her Master of Arts degree in art history and museum studies from Rutgers University.
Prior to this new position, Grzesiak was Director of Fraunces Tavern Museum in New York, a 93-year-old historic landmark. Before that, she served as executive director of the New Jersey Chamber Music Society, based in Montclair. But her educational background and lifelong dream has been to serve as the head of an art museum such as the Jersey City Museum, she said.
"This is an extremely exciting position for me to hold," Grzesiak said. "I know that there will be many challenges and I look forward to them."
Those challenges now include overseeing 15 museum employees and carrying the museum’s vision forward. Right now she is envisioning a continued commitment to Jersey City and the entire region as a cultural resource.
For one, Grzesiak hopes to expand the educational programming by tying in the segments of the museum’s collections with Jersey City’s school curriculum.
"We definitely want to show our commitment to Jersey City and our history," Grzesiak said. "It will be made very clear in our exhibitions and collections."
Also, Grzesiak wants the museum to continue its tradition of exhibiting New Jersey artists. In January, the museum will showcase the New Jersey State Council Visual Arts Expedition that includes a variety of New Jersey artists. The Expedition gives the museum an annual grant of $100,000.
In addition, Grzesiak also expressed an interest in using her contacts to bring music performances to the 152-seat auditorium inside the museum. "The possibilities are only as much as you’re imagination can bring," she said, adding, "and the money you can raise to do them."
New board members, officers
A new slate of officers and three new members have been elected to serve on Jersey City Museum’s Board of Trustees. Ofelia Garcia, dean of the College of the Arts and Communication at William Paterson University of New Jersey, will serve as chair; Louise Matthews, director of corporate real estate at Colgate-Palmolive Company in New York, will serve as vice chair; Kevin J. Ward, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Provident Bank in Jersey City will serve as treasurer; and Ann M. Davlin, director of government programs for AIG Environmental in New York, will serve as secretary.
Ward is one of the three new members. He is joined by Judith K. Brodsky, a professor and founding director of the Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper in New Brunswick, and Benjamin Dineen, vice president and team leader for the not-for-profit institutions group of Fleet serving New Jersey, metro New York and Pennsylvania. The new slate is effective immediately.
The Jersey City Museum is located at 350 Montgomery St., Jersey City. For more information, call 413-0303.