05/29/2026
The Cahoon Museum of American Art is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nile Blunt as its new Executive Director, effective June 15, 2026.
The museum has undergone a major transition over the past year, creating valuable opportunities to reflect on and evaluate its future, which the Board of Trustees believes is especially promising. The goal of this process was to select a new Executive Director to lead the museum forward. The Trustees conducted an extensive national search for a candidate who not only shares the Cahoon’s mission and vision but will also further expand them and engage donors, friends, and the broader community in new and meaningful ways.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Nile Blunt as the next Executive Director of the Cahoon Museum of American Art,” said Jessica Rapp Grassetti, Board President. “This role attracted many impressive and highly qualified candidates from across the field, but none more so than Dr. Blunt. His vision, scholarship, leadership, and deep commitment to community engagement make him uniquely suited to lead the museum into its next chapter. We are confident that under his leadership, the Cahoon Museum will continue to grow as a vibrant cultural destination and an essential resource for our community.”
Dr. Blunt brings an extensive career in museum leadership across institutions of varying scale, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; and the Memorial Art Gallery. He has also held academic appointments at the University of Rochester and Phillips Academy, Andover. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Museum Learning at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Dr. Blunt holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign.
His professional background is rooted in European and American art and its interpretation across painting, the decorative arts, and material culture. He has extensive experience in all aspects of museum management, including strategic planning, donor cultivation, fundraising, exhibition planning, and audience engagement.
"I am deeply honored to join the Cahoon as it enters an exciting new era. The museum is an inspiring institution with significant momentum and an extraordinary capacity to deepen its role as a cultural anchor for Cape Cod. I look forward to working with the Board, staff, artists, civic partners, and supporters to create meaningful opportunities for robust engagement with American art and artists through dynamic exhibitions, programs, partnerships, and initiatives," said Dr. Blunt.
This appointment ushers in a dynamic new chapter for the Cahoon Museum of American Art as it continues its commitment to celebrating American art and serving the Cape Cod community and beyond.
The Board of Trustees would also like to thank Deputy Director Cristoff Shay for his strong leadership and steady guidance as Interim Director during this important transition period.
