How did you become involved with The Hyde Collection?

I first became involved with The Hyde Collection a decade ago through a friend and colleague who was a Trustee at the time. I attended special events, served on selection panels for exhibitions, and brought students through the collection. Years later, I am honored to be a Trustee myself.

What excites you most about the work The Hyde is doing?

I am most excited about the curatorial and programmatic direction The Hyde Collection is moving in. We have an incredible team reimagining the collections in fresh and exciting ways, making the vast collection more relevant today and connecting the community through diverse programs. I look forward to the new opportunities on the horizon as The Hyde works to renovate Hoopes House and make campus improvements. I am especially excited for contemporary artists to engage with the collections, and for the Museum to become more accessible to the community. It’s a jewel worth being discovered!

What excites you most about the future of the arts in our region?

I am beyond excited for the collective moment we are in, and the future for the arts (artists!) in our region! The arts have been an important and vibrant part of my professional life for over two decades and I have not been this optimistic for the future of regional arts in a long time! Artists are leading the way to reimagine our communities in more inclusive, sustainable, and supportive ways. The past few years have proven that the arts are not only vital for cultural enrichment, but that it is key to economic development. Our communities benefit when we invest more in artists. I am thrilled to be leading efforts to create more sustainable support for emerging and underrepresented artists to access opportunities and remove barriers through my work at Skidmore College with the Entrepreneurial Artist Initiative and through my leadership at Collar Works, especially with our Elizabeth Murray Artist Residency and FLOCKart program (a mobile gallery and community engagement residency in a renovated shipping container). I hope to be able to forge deeper partnerships in the community to not only make the region a greater destination for experiencing art, but to keep our artists living, working, thriving here.

*Elizabeth Dubben and Kate Wilkins met in the fall of 2007 at an exhibition opening hosted by Amrose + Sable Gallery in Albany, New York. Founded by Elizabeth with the mission of exhibiting emerging and underrepresented artists in the Capital Region, the space quickly became a beacon for community and creativity. Elizabeth went on to co-found Albany’s First Fridays, which ignited arts events throughout the region. Now more than fifteen years later, Kate credits her career to the cultural landscape Elizabeth helped create, and the bond they share is a testament to the rich and collaborative arts community in upstate New York.