The search for a new leader of the Everhart Museum is imminent after longtime Executive Director Cara Sutherland resigned this week.
Ms. Sutherland, a Scranton resident, will vacate her position at the city museum by April. She held the job for the last 10 years but is set to move to New England for a new opportunity and to be closer to family, she said.
“This all happened very quickly, it wasn’t planned,” Ms. Sutherland said. “The stars aligned in a certain way.”
Her father lives in Northern New York and is well into his 80s, which inspired the move, Ms. Sutherland said. She declined to name the museum where she accepted a job, but stated that she would be executive director at a rural, agricultural facility.
“No paintings,” she explained with a laugh. “I’m going to start a new chapter. I don’t want to have that regret that I didn’t spend enough time (with family).
“I’m going to really miss this place,” Ms. Sutherland said. “We had a lot of tears this week. But it’s going to be fine. Dr. Everhart created a great place and I’m just one of the caretakers along the way.”
The board of trustees will be in charge of choosing her replacement, Ms. Sutherland said, and she did not anticipate being part of the interview process for new candidates. The board president could not be reached for comment Friday.
Among her favorite accomplishments during her decade with the Everhart, Ms. Sutherland listed the revitalization of the museum’s programming.
“The staff has been able to engage the community and bring people through our doors of all ages,” Ms. Sutherland said. “Bringing back gallery spaces that hadn’t been open in a long time, like the rocks room.”
“My thanks to the staff and board (who) put life into this museum,” she said.
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