The Cleveland Museum of Art has announced that Deborah Gribbon has been chosen to assume the position of Interim Director, and that it has initiated a broad search for the next permanent director of the museum. Gribbon will arrive at the museum on September 14, and will begin in her position on September 21 when the current director parts ways.

Most recently, Gribbon was the Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum and Vice President of the J. Paul Getty Trust for four years. For the previous 16 years, Gribbon served in various curatorial leadership positions, including Associate Director and Chief Curator for the J. Paul Getty Museum. Prior to her career in Los Angeles, she also served as curator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston for eight years.

While a graduate student, Gribbon taught in various capacities at Harvard University. She also lectured and is published in the art history and museum fields. She holds a doctorate and master's degree in fine arts from Harvard University, and an undergraduate degree in art history from Wellesley College.

On being appointed to the position, Gribbon said:

“I’m thrilled to be coming to Cleveland. For nearly a century, the Cleveland Museum of Art has set the standard for American museums in the quality of its collections, the breadth of its educational programs, and the strength of its commitment to the community that surrounds it. This is clearly a particularly dynamic moment for the museum and, indeed, for the city—both are in a process of transformation built on a remarkable tradition of energy and excellence.”