Press Release

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale Announces the Addition of Four New Hires

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale Announces the Addition of Four New Hires
The Museum welcomes four new team members to enhance the education, development and curatorial departments

Fort Lauderdale, Fla — NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is thrilled to announce the addition of four new team members — Michael Z. Belcon, Jordyn Newsome, Lisa Quinn and Elisabeth de Lapresle-Wennberg. These experienced individuals will strengthen the Museum’s education, development and curatorial departments.

“We are so delighted to welcome a new wave of movers and shakers to our outstanding team at the Museum,” said Bonnie Clearwater, Director and Chief Curator of NSU Art Museum. “These four leaders are here to curate more innovative experiences for our museum-goers by modernizing our art, business education and philanthropy departments. We look forward to witnessing their imminent success at the Museum.”

NSU Art Museum’s newly appointed hires include:

Michael Z. Belcon Wege Foundation Assistant Education Curator, NSU Art Museum
Michael Z. Belcon is a multi-disciplined artist and art educator. His practice focuses on exploring print media, painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media. Through education, he facilitates the arts into his raison d’être or reason for being. Mr. Belcon attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and graduated with a BFA. He later worked as the Outreach Program Coordinator at the Young At Art Museum, a Teaching Artist at the Museum of Contemporary Art – North Miami, and is the current Wege Foundation Assistant Education Curator at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.
Elisabeth de Lapresle-Wennberg Donor Relations Associate & Annual Fund Manager, NSU Art Museum
Elisabeth de Lapresle-Wennberg is a project manager with over ten years of experience in the luxury event industry and partnership development for cultural institutions & non-profits in France and Monaco, andis thrilled to join the development team at NSU Art Museum. Ms. Lapresle-Wennberg brings her art and philanthropy expertise in developing patronage, sponsorship and membership for corporate and individual, acquired in the Endowment Fund of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Monaco Nuit Blanche and the Club of Foreign Residents of Monaco. She organized contemporary art exhibitions such as Kindles in Palais de Tokyo, Paris, and Art Yourself in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, and fundraising events like modern art charity auctions to benefit the Food Bank of Paris and the French Federation for Brain Research. To Ms. Lapresle-Wennberg, art is not only essential, but vital, and is the substantive marrow of our human beings. She firmly believes that art, in its many expressions, must be shared with each and everybody through educational programs and resources, art history research, museum permanent collection accessibility, interdisciplinary and innovative exhibitions, and artists’ support. It is her honor to contribute to the vital role NSU Art Museum plays in the community and the country as the center of the South Florida Art Coast by dedicating herself to realizing its vision and missions, thanks to the steadfast support of the members and partners.
Jordyn Newsome Exhibition & Curatorial Project Manager, NSU Art Museum
Jordyn Newsome is the Exhibition & Curatorial Project Manager at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, where she oversees exhibitions in all aspects from development to implementation. Ms. Newsome comes to NSU Art Museum from Locust Projects, where she served as Gallery & Exhibitions Manager for almost four years. During this time, Ms. Newsome managed all operations and exhibitions. She supported the organization in implementing its strategic visioning, increasing the opportunities offered to artists and annual shows, and securing new multi-year grants to ensure long-term sustainability. Before Locust Projects, Ms. Newsome was the Executive Assistant and Office Manager of ICA Miami from 2014-2018. She trained in the curatorial department and assisted executive staff in planning, funding and opening a brand-new museum. Ms. Newsome has exhibited at Flowerbox Projects in Miami, Tempus Projects, the University of South Florida Undergraduate Research Department, and Centre Gallery in Tampa, and previously worked as an arts writer and consultant for Midtown Miami Magazine. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of South Florida, Tampa in 2013.
Lisa Quinn Lillian S. Wells Foundation Education Curator, NSU Art Museum
Lisa Quinn has acquired over 15 years of experience in museum education practices and studio art education. While studying for an MFA in Studio Art, she was offered a position in the Education Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At The Met, Ms. Quinn facilitated group visits and eventually conducted and led Family Programs. Here, she developed a love for education and teaching. Soon after, Ms. Quinn began teaching studio art courses to teens and adults at One River School of Art in Englewood, NJ, and grew into the Director of Education position. She recently held the Education Program Manager position at The Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach for over five years. In that role, Ms. Quinn initiated and developed the Teen Board program and in-house facilitated programs for all ages. She has had a lifelong passion for art education and is dedicating herself to exposing the benefits of visual arts to all ages. Currently, Ms. Quinn holds the role of Lillian S. Wells Foundation Education Curator at NSU Art Museum and is thrilled to join the team.

NSU Art Museum is located in the hub of the South Florida Art Coast, situated midway between Miami and Palm Beach in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Museum is a premier destination for exhibitions and programs encompassing all facets of civilization’s visual history. For more information, please visit https://nsuartmuseum.org.

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About NSU Art Museum
Founded in 1958, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is a premier destination for exhibitions and programs encompassing many facets of civilization’s visual history. Located midway between Miami and Palm Beach in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s arts and entertainment district, the Museum’s 83,000 square-foot building, which opened in 1986, was designed by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes and contains over 25,000 square feet of exhibition space, the 256 -seat Horvitz auditorium, a museum store, and café. In 2008, the Museum became part of Nova Southeastern University (NSU), one of the largest private research universities in the United States. NSU Art Museum is known for its significant collection of Latin American art, contemporary art with an emphasis on art by Black, Latinx and women artists, African art that spans the 19th to the 21st-century, as well as works by American artist William Glackens, and the European Cobra group of artists. Two scholarly research centers complement the collections: Dr. Stanley and Pearl Goodman Latin American Art Study Center and the William J. Glackens Study Center.

Exhibitions and programs at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale are made possible in part by a challenge grant from the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation. Funding is also provided by the City of Fort Lauderdale, Community Foundation of Broward, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

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