Directory

Karen Gillenwater is the current director of Learning, Engagement, and Belonging at the Speed Art Museum. Karen joins the Speed from 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, where she served as the Museum Manager and engaged visitors in meaningful experiences with art, leading education programs and developing partnerships with local organizations including the ACLU of Kentucky, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Mental Health Lou. Previously she served as the Curator of the Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, Indiana, and at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky as Director of Art Galleries and Curator of Collections. Gillenwater’s appointment marks her return to the Speed after beginning her curatorial career at the Museum over 20 years ago.  Stepping into her new role on September 6 with the start of the academic year, she will reengage school programs as students return to the Museum and lead the learning and engagement team in programming spanning early childhood development, career exploration for creative fields, and informal and life-long learning. She will also spearhead the redesign of the Museum’s interactive learning center, Art Sparks.

“I am excited to come back to the Speed so I can help develop new learning opportunities and continue to deliver the Museum’s world-class arts programs for the community’s benefit,” said Gillenwater. “As someone with deep ties to Louisville’s thriving arts scene, I am especially thrilled to shape the Speed’s engagement plan and lead the redesign of the Art Sparks gallery and studio spaces, which will provide hands-on artmaking to ignite creativity in generations of future art lovers.”