Threewalls appoints Jeffreen M. Hayes as Executive Director

Threewalls have appointed art historian and curator Jeffreen M. Hayes as their new Executive Director after a nationwide search.

Hayes joins the Chicago based non-profit organisation after the founding Executive Director, Shannon R. Stratton, resigned in April earlier this year to become Chief Curator at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Stratton continues to serve on the Threewalls Executive Board.

Hayes has had several years experience at museums and other cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress. She has held fellowships at Ithaca College in the Art History department and in the Cartoon and Caricature Division at Library of Congress as a Swann Foundation Fellow. She currently serves as Chief Executive Community and Culture Fellow, a program facilitated by National Arts Strategies.

Hayes has been in Chicago for just over two years and has since worked with local artists, supporting their community-engaged projects and leading engagement efforts. Her work in Chicago includes acting as Executive Director for Rebuild Foundation. She continues to work with artists, including Jan Tichy, Marissa Lee Benedict and David Rueter, to build community and artist collaborations.

“I am thrilled to join Threewalls as the next Executive Director and begin working with the team, Executive Board, Community Cabinet, and the Chicago contemporary arts community to increase our cultural impact in Chicago and beyond,” said Hayes. “Threewalls is a vital organization that places artists at the center, supports them at critical moments in their careers, and understands them as experts and essential to the development of Chicago’s ecosystem. In keeping with the founders’ intention, and the solid foundation laid by Shannon, Threewalls will continue to support our community of artists and peers while deepening our commitment to access and inclusion.”

“Jeffreen’s breadth of experience in curating and administration, alongside her dedication to local artists and communities, makes her a great fit for Threewalls,” said Stratton. “I am very confident in the organization’s future:  Threewalls will grow and thrive under Jeffreen’s leadership and vision. I am excited to see where she leads us and give her my full support.”