Rod Bigelow, executive director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, was the keynote speaker at the annual Director’s Society and Chairman’s Club Dinner of the Vero Beach Museum of Art, an invitational event for individuals who support the museum at the highest levels.

During the cocktail hour, Bigelow mingled with everyone and, prior to enjoying dinner in the Buck Atrium, guests made their way into the Holmes Great Hall for his talk.

“As you know, this is the beginning of what’s going to be a great season for us here at the Vero Beach Museum of Art. In fact, I think our team has put together one of the best seasons that I can remember, so it’s going to be spectacular,” said Brady Roberts, VBMA CEO/executive director.

“I want you to know that the Chairman’s Club members are the largest single source of revenue for the museum. This is an incredible group, and we couldn’t do all of this without you. So, thank you,” said Roberts.

He said that when many people think of America’s great museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art come to mind.

“But I would posit that an emerging contender is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art,” said Roberts. He added that its Art Bridges program supported the 2021 VBMA exhibition, American Perspective Stories from the American Folk Art Collection.

“Since opening its doors in 2011, Crystal Bridges has developed an outstanding collection of American art and has become an innovator in connecting communities across the country with great art collections.”

Roberts said that Crystal Bridges is also growing programmatically and physically.

“In 2026, the museum expects to complete a 100,000-square-foot expansion, increasing its exhibition spaces by 65 percent. There’s a lot of growth in the museum field nationally, and in fact, the Vero Beach Museum of Art is embarking on a capital expansion project,” said Roberts.

While the VBMA project is still in the quiet phase, he said they are about halfway toward its goal.
“You’ll be hearing a lot more about our project in the coming weeks and months, and I do want to thank all of the people here tonight who have supported this project.”

Roberts said Bigelow joined Crystal Bridges as the deputy director of operations and administration in 2010, before the museum opened its doors to the public, and he was appointed executive director in 2013.

“During Rod’s tenure at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas, that museum has welcomed more than 12 million visitors,” said Roberts.

“Hi y’all. That’s my best version of an Arkansas welcome. I grew up in Seattle, so I’m working on it,” said Bigelow with a laugh.

“This is such a vibrant group. It was exciting to see all of you come together and connect in such a wonderful way. This is clearly an impressive group that supports the institution in important ways, and Brady’s work here has been something that I’ve been watching and admiring for a long, long time,” said Bigelow.

“This morning I walked the beach, and I wandered the community, and this is a really high bar.

I’m going to try to impress you with Crystal Bridges, but what you have in your own backyard is really amazing. Brady walked me through the museum and its incredible collection and space and there’s more to come which is really impressive and exciting and a sign of a growing community,” said Bigelow.

The upcoming VBMA exhibition, French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850-1950, will be on display Feb. 1 to June 22.

For more information, visit VBMuseum.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis