Bacigalupi Named Crystal Bridges’ First President

Don Bacigalupi, executive director of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, has been promoted to president, a newly created position.

Museum officials made the announcement Tuesday morning by as part of a leadership shift. Bacigalupi also will serve as a member of the museum’s board of directors.

Rod Bigelow, the museum’s deputy director for operations and administration, has been promoted to succeed Bacigalupi as executive director.

Both promotions are effective immediately.

Bacigalupi, according to a news release, will work to advance the museum’s national and global special initiatives, and work closely with the board and staff leadership. Board chairman Alice Walton said Bacigalupi is poised to take the museum to even greater accomplishments in its second year.

“He has created a first-rate and highly effective leadership team, prepared to advance Crystal Bridges’ strategic plan and keep the momentum going into our second year of operation and beyond,” she said.

Bigelow will assume oversight for day-to-day operations of the museum. 

Bacigalupi, who joined Crystal Bridges’ staff in 2009, was previously president, director and CEO of the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio for six years. He was selected as Crystal Bridges’ executive director to help guide and build the museum toward opening and beyond.

“I look forward to this additional challenge of taking the museum to even greater heights through the implementation of our strategic plan, which is full of exciting initiatives that will further position Crystal Bridges as a catalyst in the world discussion about American art,” Bacigalupi said.

Bigelow has served as the deputy director of operations and administration at Crystal Bridges since 2010, overseeing the areas of finance, facilities, grounds and trails, IT, security, human resources, culinary, and retail activities. He formerly served as chief operating officer and interim executive director at the Toledo Museum of Art, and as chief financial officer and interim executive director at the Tacoma Art Museum in Washington as well.

“I’ve never felt more prepared to take on a new challenge as I do with this role at Crystal Bridges,” Bigelow said.

Museum officials said Sandy Edwards will remain on the executive team as deputy director, and Tracy Cude will continue to serve as chief financial officer.