Head of Norton reflects on first year at the helm of marquee museum

Norton Museum of Art CEO and director Ghislain d’Humières is nearing completion of his first year at the museum known for its prestigious permanent collection, and he is getting to know the people and places of South Florida.

A native of France who has lived in the United States for 28 years, d’Humières' most recent positions before coming to the West Palm Beach museum were in Louisville, Kentucky, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, both very different from South Florida.

But since starting the new job at the Norton’s 6.3-acre campus at 1450 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach in January, he said he has explored the Palm Beaches, enjoyed frequent swims in the ocean and has taken an air boat tour of The Everglades. He also travels to Miami to visit art galleries and art events.

D’Humières assumed the role Jan. 18, replacing Elliot Bostwick Davis, who resigned in June 2020 after a little more than 15 months in the post.

D’Humières served as director and chief executive of the Speed Art Museum in Louisville and as chief curator at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma and previously worked for Christie’s and Sotheby’s art auction houses

More: 'Norton is back' with exhibit featuring Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera

“It has been very exciting and very busy. The Kahlo exhibition is a fabulous success, and that is great,” d’ Humières said in a recent interview.

In November, the museum unveiled its first major exhibit of the season, “Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection.” It runs through Feb. 6 and features more than 150 works, including 23 works by Kahlo and 11 works by Rivera.

The Norton’s annual gala will celebrate the exhibition with cocktails, dinner and dancing on Feb. 5 at the museum.

Among the changes he has made, is a move to make the signage on the art works bilingual.

“That was something that was very important to me. When I arrived here 11 months ago, I was a bit surprised the museum was not bilingual, number one because we are in Florida, which is logical, and because most of the museums around the country are becoming bilingual,” d’Humières said.

The Kahlo exhibit was the first to be bilingual and the transition throughout the museum should be complete by January. Next is the website, which is a more expensive and time-consuming redo.

“With Frida Kahlo we did a lot of outreach into the Spanish-speaking community ─ Mexican, Mayan and we did a lot of programs in Spanish. We have trained some guides to do tours in Spanish," d’Humières said. “The public should take advantage of it because we don’t often have a combination of works of art like that together. It is the first time you have all of these paintings together in Florida, and it really does speak to the public.”

Eight students from John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres took the Norton’s eight-week docent training course and are now giving tours in Spanish. They also benefit by developing their public-speaking skills.

Other current exhibits include “Saul Steinberg: A Writer Who Draws,” through March 6, “Origin Stories: Photography of Africa and Its Diaspora,” through March 20 and “Special Guest: Calder BMW Art Car” through April 24. To view more, go to Norton.org.

Attendance has been going well this fall. Almost 18,000 people have visited the museum since Oct. 23, when the museum returned to its seven days a week schedule. Art after Dark on Fridays, when the museum’s restaurant is open for dinner and it is open until 10 p.m., is popular. It continues to offer live music, film screenings, art workshops and more.

Weddings, corporate events and other are once again being held at the Norton and are a big part of revenue.

“The season is buzzing. We have doing collaborations with other organizations. We collaborate with the Miami City Ballet, with the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach and with the Palm Beach Opera We just did a collaboration with New Wave Art Wknd,” he said. “We are doing some get-to-know the community lectures with the Four Arts.

“We are reaching out and trying to do collaborations. We have less resources. It is better to join forces and do things together. It makes sense for the community,” d’Humières added.

His first priority upon taking the helm was the well-being of the 100 full-time and part-time employees, d’Humières said, because having the right team is essential to success. Each position was given a clear job description and the duties were spelled out in detail.

The hourly workers’ wages were raised to $15 from $12, and a study was conducted to compare salaries with those of the staffs at other museums on a national basis. About half the salaries were on par or higher with other museums and about half were too low, and those were raised. More than 16 internal promotions were made.

“That has been really important because it takes time. Now we have a team who is really excited to be here because they know what they are supposed to do,” he said. “You cannot do the job without the staff.”

This summer, as it did last summer, the museum will have a full schedule of events.

“When I arrived, everyone said the summer is empty. That is not true,” he said, pointing out that Palm Beach County’s population is 1.5 million with many people who live here year-round.

“The museum needs to be here for everybody who is here in the summer. We are for everybody. Remember, Mr. Norton, the founder in 1941, he wanted the Norton to be exactly where we are in West Palm Beach and be a place for everybody.” he said. “We are really following the same vision, we are here for every generation from kids to senior citizens.”

The museum was founded in 1941 Ralph Hubbard Norton (1875-1953) and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton (1881-1947). Norton was an industrialist who headed the Acme Steel Co. in Chicago. Their sizeable art collection led to them founding the museum, the first of its kind in South Florida.

The museum’s permanent collection now consists of more than 8,200 works in five departments: European, American, Chinese, Contemporary and Photography.

As CEO, d’Humières oversees the museum’s $15 million annual operating budget and fundraising is ongoing in this challenging time. Although the museum completed a $100 million expansion including new galleries, classrooms, auditorium and a 37,000-square-foot sculpture garden in 2019, fund-raising is ongoing.

“We are going to have to continue raising the endowment. It is always important to continue. Because that helps to pay for the operating budget. Right now, we just want to make sure we are back into the community and that we are serving people.

“I am working closely with HR. The internal culture of the museum is a priority for me. I would not be able to do my job if my staff was not performing and happy,” he said. “The staff loves the mission of the museum.”

D’Humières lives in one of the 1920s-era cottages on the Norton’s properties and entertains groups of up to 75 people there.

“The collection of the Norton Museum is fabulous. I love working with the staff. That has been a nice surprise. Palm Beach is a beautiful place and, and the people are interesting. I am very happy to be here. The job is exciting. The donors are very nice. It is a great place to be,” he said.

Some events continue on Zoom because it works and brings in people from all over the world, he said. The Norton Channel on YouTube has more than 1,100 subscribers.

The Norton Channel promotes the museum’s exhibitions, programs and events. Viewers can see behind the-scenes videos highlighting volunteers, board members, staff and visitors. The channel also highlights West Palm Beach as a destination.

COVID protocols remain in place for the time being. Masks are required except when visiting the Museum Garden or while actively eating or drinking in The Restaurant or Great Hall.

Guests ages 12 and older are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 professionally administered PCR test taken within 72 hours; or a negative COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test conducted within 24 hours, or voluntarily show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

“Especially with what is going on right now, we do it first for the protection for the staff, they are on the front of meeting a lot of people. Because we are in the business of service, I need to make sure there is protection for them.

Museum admission to the permanent collection only is free on Saturdays to City of West Palm Beach residents. Admission to the permanent collection also is free for all health care professionals, first responders and Florida educators, with valid ID. Admission to the special exhibits for those with free general admission is $7.

Advance timed ticket reservations are encouraged. Admission for adults 18 and over is $18, seniors 60 plus, $15; children 12 and under, free; students and college students, $5.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Head of Norton reflects on first year at the helm of marquee museum