Dear Friends and Supporters, 

It is with deep gratitude for her years of dedication that I announce Kristin Noon’s decision to step down as Executive Director of the Wenham Museum as of June 30, 2024. Below, you can read Kristin’s personal statement about this transition.  

As Executive Director over the last eleven years, Kristin has played an important role in the success of the Wenham Museum. During her tenure, Kristin has:

• Raised $5M in philanthropy, including grants and special event income, to support the work of the Wenham Museum. This includes the museum’s 100th Anniversary campaign, the most successful campaign in museum history to date.  

• Generated a 59% increase in museum visitation through improved exhibition and programmatic offerings to meet the needs of our core audiences.

• Rebranded the institution to support its status as not only a community treasure, but a regional destination that celebrates the childhood experience and fosters connections across the generations.  

• Guided the museum through the challenging moments and shutdowns of the pandemic and rebuilt audiences and programming to near pre-pandemic levels.  

• Prioritized collections care and stewardship, having raised the funds to rehouse the permanent collections in accordance with best practices. 

• Led the institution through the acquisition of the Patton Family Archives, which holds incredible potential to engage future generations in important local history with much broader connections.  

• Overseen a variety of facilities improvements, including significant preservation work to the museum’s historic Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House, HVAC upgrades, gallery renovations, and most recently, renovations to our lobby and exterior to better serve our guests and community.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff of the Wenham Museum, we would like to thank Kristin for her leadership and her service to the museum. The dedicated team that Kristin has built at the museum will continue bringing our mission to life through popular exhibitions, programs, and events while preserving and managing a wonderful collection. The Board of Trustees is also fully committed to building upon the successes of the 100th anniversary and launching the Wenham Museum into an exciting second century.

Now, our first priority is to find the best individual to lead the Wenham Museum into its bright future. To that end, we have completed an RFP process for an executive search firm and retained the Arts Consulting Group (ACG) of Boston, Massachusetts. ACG brings the knowledge and experience to conduct a comprehensive search, especially for leaders in the museum field. We are in the process of creating a search committee of Trustees and important stakeholders to work with ACG in making this important hire.  

Kristin will continue to lead the Wenham Museum through this transition. Today, please join me in thanking Kristin for her many years of leadership, her work, and her partnership. We wish her all the best in her next endeavor and know that she will always be an important part of our Wenham Museum family. 

Sincerely,     

Michael S. Lucy

President, Board of Trustees

Dear Friends and Supporters, 

Earlier this year, I shared the news with the Executive Committee of our Board of Trustees that I will be stepping down as Executive Director of the Wenham Museum as of June 30, 2024. This decision was not easy, as I care deeply for this institution and the important mission it holds in the community. After a great deal of personal reflection, I have chosen to pursue a different professional opportunity that will allow me to spend more time with my young family.  

The last 11.5 years at the Wenham Museum have been the most rewarding of my professional career. I have met so many wonderful people during my time as director, and your partnership and support has been invaluable. The museum’s success is also due in no small part to the incredible dedication of our small staff and its devoted volunteers. The museum could not do any of the wonderful things we do for our community without this collaborative effort, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  

I am incredibly proud of the work that I have been able to do for the Wenham Museum. We have completed so many worthy projects and initiatives, and it has been gratifying to see how our visitors and the community at large have embraced our efforts. I have never felt more optimistic about the future for the Wenham Museum.  

Over the last several weeks, I have had many conversations with our Executive Committee to craft an effective transition plan. I have tremendous confidence in the team at the museum to continue our mission. We are also bolstered by the success of our 100th Anniversary fundraising campaign, which will help propel the museum into its second century. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the Wenham Museum and I hope to find new ways that I can continue to support this wonderful place.  

Over the next five months, I will continue to serve in my current role. If the hiring and onboarding of my successor takes longer than anticipated, I am flexible in my ability to continue to serve the museum over the summer of 2024. My goal is to ensure that our programs and initiatives continue successfully during this transition, including Camp Whirlygig.  

I have been honored to lead this institution for so many wonderful years. Thank you all again for your friendship and support.  

With gratitude,

Kristin Z. Noon

Executive Director

About the Wenham Museum

The Wenham Museum is a multi-generational place to roam, play and discover. For 100 years the Museum has proven that the desire to gather, learn and play is as important as ever.