I leave the Museum on good terms. It has been a year of impressive gains and striking accomplishment. Attendance was our highest in recent years with 1,227,000 visitors, many of them filling the MFA with a new sense of excitement and energy. Exhibition highlights that attracted so many included “Goya: Order and Disorder,” “Jamie Wyeth,” “Hokusai,” “Leonardo da Vinci and the Idea of Beauty,” and two displays of historic artifacts of local, national, and international interest: an original copy of the Magna Carta on view at the MFA from July to September 2014, and the contents of the time capsule uncovered on the Massachusetts State House grounds that was on display in March and April 2015.
In September 2014 we opened three new galleries dedicated to ancient Greek art that collectively celebrate Wine, Poets, and Performers in Ancient Greece: Homer and the Epics, the Krupp Gallery; Dionysos and the Symposium; and Theater and Performance.
The Future Is Now campaign wrapped up a very busy and successful second year, having raised $140 million so far toward the $200 million goal; I feel very pleased to be passing on such a strong foundation to my successor.
It takes a resilient team to make a year like this so successful and to collaborate over these many years in keeping the Museum strong and financially healthy. We have weathered many storms and have been able to move ahead, together. Thank you to the staff, Board, and all of those whose hard work and dedication this year and throughout my tenure have made it an honor and a pleasure to serve as the Ann and Graham Gund Director.