This past March, Eric Motley was appointed to the executive ranks of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) and is slated to begin his role as Deputy Director on August 30, 2021. According to NGA, as Deputy Director, Motley will "lead the museum's externally facing, mission-based work, in service of the nation, by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity." His duties include overseeing congressional relations, communications, development and membership, special events, visitor experience and evaluation and the division of content strategy, publishing and branding.
Mr. Motley has spent over two decades serving government, non-profit and private sector businesses. A few of his most notable positions were as an Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to “drive change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time,” and as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Presidential Personnel, where he managed the appointment process in the White House for over 1,200 presidentially appointed advisory board and commission positions. Additionally he served the Bush Administration as a counselor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs for the US State Department, and also served as Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors.
“I believe that we are witnessing a paradigm shift in our nation with respect to the role that museums play in our cities and communities—connecting people to transcendent ideas and inspiring creativity,” Motley said in a statement. “This is where the National Gallery is headed and I am honored to contribute to this journey.”
Amongst his career achievements, in 2017, he published a memoir, Madison Park, A Place of Hope, in which he tells the story of growing up in a small community in Montgomery, Alabama that was founded in 1880 by a group of freed slaves. Arté Noir wishes Mr. Motley well in his newest endeavor!