Women To Watch 10.12.25 - Flipbook - Page 14
KAREN JACKSON/FREELANCE
Kate Burgin
45, executive director and CEO, The Walters Art Museum
Kate Burgin began her new role as head of the Walters
Art Museum in January, just as arts and cultural organizations nationwide were facing unprecedented challenges due to cuts in federal funding.
She didn’t let it slow her down.
For example, in April the federal government pulled
funding for the museum’s first permanent installation
of Latin American art.
In May, the exhibit opened anyway. “We base our
decisions on what we think are the most important projects to do,” Burgin said. “We just rolled up our sleeves
and continued on with our work.” Burgin’s selection by
museum trustees in some ways broke with precedent;
14 | 2025 | WOMEN TO WATCH
she is the Walters’ first director since 1945 without an
art history background. During Burgin’s previous stint
at the Walters, from 2016 to 2022, she was tasked with
enhancing the museum’s bottom line and developing
diversity and access initiatives. She is passionate about
reaching young audiences and building connections
between the museum and the city in which the Walters
is located.
As she put it: “I fundamentally believe that if we can
engage young people and families in using this museum,
it will expand the way they think about the world and
its possibilities.”
— Mary Carole McCauley
