DIA names Salvador Salort-Pons its new director

It has taken nine months of searching and deliberating to name Salvador Salort-Pons a

s the Detroit Institute of Arts’ 11th director. In preparation for former DIA Director Graham W. J. Beal’s retirement on June 30 of this year, the DIA orchestrated a competitive international search for his replacement. On September 16, Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr., chair of the DIA board and search committee, officially introduced Salort-Pons to the media.

“We had candidates from different countries and different parts of the United States … it was a very competitive field,” said Gargaro. “This was a highly confidential matter by design. I was very, very pleased that we had a unanimous vote in favor (via the DIA’s Board of Directors).”

Salort-Pons has worked as both the DIA’s director of the European art department as well as the director of collection strategies and information. He will take his office on October 15.

Although the DIA will be taken under new leadership, drastic changes are not expected.

“We’ve had significant enough change in the institution that we’re not looking for the next leader to overhaul the DIA,” Gargaro said. “Salvador has the skills to elevate what we’re doing to a higher standard, but not to completely change what we’re doing.”

Salort-Pons has taken the opportunity to explain his vision for the institute and in doing so, voiced the desire to further encourage community involvement. Programs for the promotion of the diversification of the museum are currently in the works.

“The DIA is one of the finest museums in the world, and the reason I came to the DIA is because of its incredible collection,” Salort-Pons said. “From the very first moment I came here, I realized how wonderful the staff was. How committed they are to the institution, this love they have, it was very inspiring to me.”

Salort-Pons has five main initial goals as director: community-focused exhibitions and programs, collaborating with other institutions within Detroit, strengthening the international collections, hiring a curator of contemporary art and bringing scientific and conservation efforts to the forefront of daily museum activity.

“We will start offering programs and exhibitions that are of interest to all of the communities,” Salort-Pons said. “As long as the museum is diverse, internally and externally... the society can be reflected in this place. I think people are going to love us more and feel connected to us.”

Patrons may recognize Salort-Pons from student tour groups. An employee like Sayed Islam, a security officer at the DIA, has become familiar with Salort-Pons as a fellow employee over the years, and he is excited to see him take leadership.

“It is a great change of pace,” Islam said. “I’ve known Salvador for a while, and he is a very nice guy. He’s always personable, shakes your hand, always talks to you, asks how you are, and he is extremely knowledgeable about the artwork.”

The introduction of a new director and plans to improve upon the DIA are an optimistic shift in light of recent losses like late benefactor, A. Alfred Taubman and his collection.

“I’d known Alfred very well while I worked here in Detroit, and I keep wonderful memories of him,” Salort-Pons said. “Having his works of art here on loan for so many years has been an honor for us. Now they have decided to use them for other purposes and this is family business, and I am very thankful for all of the things that we have done together with them. I am very positive that in the future, we will continue working with them.”

The eight Taubman pieces that are to be auctioned by Sotheby’s were previously on public display, but have since been removed and replaced. The new paintings on display include: “Entombment of Christ” (1659-60) by Luca Giordano, “The Repentant Magdalene” (1625) by Nicolas Regnier, “Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy before a Cherub with a Violin” (1628-30) by Gioacchino Assereto, “Allegory of Hope” (1617-18) by Alessandro Turchi, “Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes” (1623-25) by Artemisia Gentileschi, “St. Jerome in the Wilderness” (1645-85) by Workshop of Jusepe de Ribera, “Preparations for a Meal” (1664) by Abraham Hendricksz van Beyeren.

“We are just putting back what we had before, and I have to say that this extraordinary collection at the DIA allows us to tell the same stories that we had before and the galleries look refreshed.” Salort-Pons said.

For more information, the DIA’s main visitor line is 313-833-7900, follow them on Twitter: @DIADetroit.

Contact Aleanna Siacon: 586-354-5040 or fv7748@wayne.edu. Follow her on Twitter: @ATerese11

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