PM's Pick for V&A, Chelsea Hotel Coup, and More

Art-world comings and goings don't slow down—not even for Art Basel, the Venice Biennale, documenta, or the London auctions. The past couple of weeks have proven busier than ever, with several museums announcing departures and new hires, a major auction house adding to its staff, and the end of an era for an age-old Manhattan artists' abode. Again, keep the comings and goings coming by sending us info at NewsEditors@artinfo.com.

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LONDON—John Tusa, who is retiring in August as managing director of London's Barbican arts center, will become chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum, Bloomberg reports. Prime Minister Tony Blair named Tusa as chairman on June 18. He will assume his new role at the museum in November.

NEW YORK—The Jewish Museum has elected Joshua Nash as chairman of its board of trustees, and Robert A. Pruzan as president of the board. Nash became a museum trustee in 1997 and was elected vice president last year. He also has co-chaired the exhibition committee and several special events. Pruzan, who became a trustee in 2003, serves on the museum's fine arts acquisition committee, for which he was elected assistant treasurer in 2005. The museum called the new elections "a shift to a new generation of leaders."

NEW YORK—The Bard family, who managed the Chelsea Hotel—a haven for artists for more than 50 years—was ousted in a board vote last week, The New York Times reports. The Bards were known during their tenure for welcoming struggling artists (including Andy Warhol at one time, and famous art duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude), giving them rent breaks, letting them slosh paint on the walls and floors, and even loaning them money.

The new management team is led by BD Hotels NY L.L.C., which owns and operates about 5,000 rooms at several upscale hotels in the city, including the Chambers, Maritime and Bowery Hotels.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jay Gates, director of the Phillips Collection, will step down from his post sometime in 2008, The Washington Post reports. Gates recently marked his ninth year as director of the museum, and he said he was stepping down because he is ready for a change—he wants to teach and write about museums. Gates will stay until the board finds a successor next year.

LONDON—Jenny Blyth has joined the Louise T Blouin Foundation as chief curator. Blyth was previously curator to Charles Saatchi for 12 years, establishing Boundary Road in St John’s Wood as the most influential mould for a contemporary art space—where industrial white walls and Brit Art became synonymous.

NEW YORK—Moti Hasson Gallery has added David Kramer to its roster of represented artists. Kramer, who graduated from the Pratt Institute in 1987, lives and works in New York. His works on paper, paintings, sculpture, video, film, performance, public art, and books juxtaposing humor and pathos have been exhibited everywhere from New York's Whitney Museum of American Art to Belgium's Aeroplastics Contemporary.

PHILADELPHIA—Christie's has appointed Alexis Egan McCarthy as its new regional representative in its Philadelphia office. McCarthy's experience includes serving as the chief operating officer of the investment management division at Morgan Stanley's Tokyo office, and vice president, client relationship manager, and product specialist with Miller Anderson & Sherrerd. In her new role at Christie's, McCarthy will focus on building the business and fostering relationships with clients in the region.

CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Museum of Art has appointed Thomas M. Welsh as its new associate director for music. Welsh, who joins the museum after managing composers and performers at Edison Fields Artists Management in San Francisco, will be responsible for programming the CMA's Western classical music series. Welsh's experience also includes a decade of managing the classical music label New Albion Records.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has promoted Christopher Cook to curator. Cook, who takes over the position immediately, started as assistant curator at the museum in 2006, and recently served as acting curator. His experience also includes serving as curator at the Sioux City Art Center in Sioux City, Iowa.