Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation, the New York-based foundation that supports Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, announced today that Michael Diaz-Griffith has been selected as the Foundation’s new Executive Director. Previously, Diaz-Griffith was Associate Executive Director of The Winter Show (formerly the Winter Antiques Show) and a consultant for arts and non-profit organizations. In February, he was named to House Beautiful’s list of “2020 Visionaries” for his advocacy of historic art, material culture and preservation.

Diaz-Griffith is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians, the Decorative Arts Trust, and the Royal Oak Foundation, and he sits on the Steering Committee of the Winter Show. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from College of the Atlantic and a Master of Arts degree from Kings College London.

In his role at the Soane Foundation, Diaz-Griffith will work closely with the Trustees to grow the Foundation’s fundraising capacities and its regional reach, promoting on a national stage the Foundation’s mission to create a lively educational forum in the fields of art, architecture, and design inspired by the inquisitive and independent spirit of British architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837), founder of the eponymous museum.

“The Board of Directors is delighted to announce this appointment,” said Paul Whalen, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Michael is an innovative and energetic leader whose knowledge of and passion for art and architecture is extensive.We have great confidence that he will develop a strong collaboration with our supporters in New York, as well as with the leaders and staff of the Museum in London.”

Bruce Boucher, Deborah Loeb Brice Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum, said, “The Museum greatly looks forward to working with Michael, and we are confident that under his leadership, the Foundation will continue its strong efforts to support the Museum. Inspired by Soane, the events held by the Foundation have long been attracting those who have an interest in the fields of art, architecture and design. In these unprecedented times, with the Museum physically closed and with events postponed, we hope our supporters around the world will enjoy engaging with the Museum’s collection and exhibition online and through our digital channels.”

Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation
Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation, based in New York, fosters a lively educational forum in the fields of art, architecture, and design inspired by the inquisitive spirit of British architect Sir John Soane (1753–1837), founder of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London. Today, the Museum is one of the United Kingdom’s most unusual and significant museums with a continuing and developing commitment to education and creative inspiration. Each year, the Foundation raises critical philanthropic support for the Museum through a program of lectures, fellowships, travel opportunities, and an annual benefit, the Soane Honors, devoted to the design ingenuity and creative talent of our time.

www.soanefoundation.org

Sir John Soane’s Museum
Sir John Soane’s house, museum and library at No. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields has been a National Museum since the early 19th century. On his appointment as Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy in 1806, Soane (1753–1837) began to arrange his books, classical antiquities, casts and models so that students of architecture might benefit from access to them. In 1833 he negotiated an Act of Parliament to preserve the collection after his death for the benefit of ‘amateurs and students’ in architecture, painting and sculpture. Today, the Museum is one of the country’s most unusual and significant museums with a continuing and developing commitment to education and creative inspiration.

www.soane.org