On the occasion of its 150th anniversary this year, Cape Ann Museum announced its first-ever endowed staff position, a result of its current CAM-150 capital campaign, which is funding major renovations at its downtown campus among other efforts.
A recent gift made by Henrietta Gates and Heaton Robertson have led to the creation of the endowed position of chief curator, a position currently held by longtime curator Martha Oaks.
“We are inspired to recognize the excellent work that Martha Oaks has done and continues to do for the museum and ensure that Cape Ann Museum will be able to attract and retain top talent for this critical role in the future,” said Gates, chair of the museum’s Board of Trustees.
An endowed position is an indicator in the confidence and growth of the institution as evidenced by this philanthropic donation, museum Director Oliver Barker said.
“Martha’s commitment to the museum, to excellence and scholarship, has helped elevate Cape Ann Museum to one of the best regional museums in this country,” he said. “It is a fitting tribute that in recognition of her expertise that the inaugural named position for the museum is one now held and so expertly stewarded by Martha Oaks.
“This magnificent gift, which represents the first endowed role in the museum’s 150 years of operation, was inspired by Martha’s leadership as an outstanding curator in illuminating and celebrating the many important local stories of Cape Ann.”
An important element of the endowed role is that it will alleviate pressure on the museum’s annual operating budget.
“At present, the museum is dependent on the continued generous support of all Cape Ann Museum members and this community to balance its budget each year,” Barker said. “With the Henrietta Gates & Heaton Robertson Chief Curator role now endowed, and other positions hopefully supported in similar ways in the future, this will give the museum greater flexibility to innovate and continue to serve and connect this community and place through art. I know that for both Henrietta Gates, and her husband, Heaton Robertson, it is gratifying to be able to honor Martha and pave the way for continued curatorial excellence at the museum.”
Oaks said she looks forward to continuing to serve the museum.
“Like so many other people, I love Cape Ann and feel honored to live and work here,” she said. “I was extraordinarily lucky to get my foot in the door at the museum back in 1979 — a lifetime ago — and then — after being away for 16 years, but really not far away at all — to be welcomed back. I’ve met the most interesting and thoughtful people over the years, all willing to roll up their sleeves in support of the museum and the community, and that’s truly inspiring.”
Oaks served as curator from 1981-1990 and again from 2007 to 2019 after which she was promoted to chief curator, a role created in 2020 in honor of her work to showcase the region’s unique history and art with the museum’s collections, and provide an enhanced visitor experience.
In her career to date, Oaks has organized numerous exhibitions featuring artists who lived and worked on Cape Ann, from sculptors Walker Hancock and George Demetrios, to painters Marsden Hartley, Frank Duveneck, John Sloan, Milton Avery, Umberto Romano and Margaret Fitzhugh Browne. She also curated many thematic exhibitions exploring such topics as the historic Rocky Neck and Rockport art colonies, women artists of Cape Ann, Folly Cove Designers, and the world of family-owned fishing vessels, among others. Additionally, she curated exhibitions of contemporary artists such as Jeff Weaver, Roger Martin, Judi Rotenberg and Charles Movalli; printmaker Don Gorvett; organ and harpsichord maker Jeremy Adams; and furniture maker Jay McLaughlan.
Oaks contributed to “Fitz Henry Lane On-Line,” a digital catalogue raisonné that provides a comprehensive list of the celebrated artist’s work, and she is now overseeing the digitization of the museum’s collections. She holds a master’s degree in American and New England Studies from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Colby College.
With the new gift to endow the chief curator position, the CAM-150 campaign, named in celebration of the museum’s watershed anniversary, has raised more than $21 million of its $22 million goal.
“I am proud of what my colleagues have accomplished and humbled by the generosity and support of our community,” Barker said. “Cape Ann Museum is where art meets life and life meets art and I sincerely hope that, spurred by this momentum, others in our community will consider supporting this important campaign initiative.”
The CAM-150 campaign is scheduled to close March 31.
“In these final months, Cape Ann Museum will be looking for gifts in any amount possible,” he said. “We really want this to be a community-led effort to best position the Cape Ann Museum for its next dynamic chapter.”
In addition to the downtown renovations of the 44,000 square foot museum, the CAM-150 campaign will pay for improvements to the 4-acre Cape Ann Museum Green campus, which is home to three colonial-era structures, and fund the museum’s endowment.
The CAM-150 also will be used to expand the educational and community programming and grow the museum’s “deepening relationship with the North Shore community and beyond,” Gates said.
The downtown museum is closed due to construction through spring 2026, with a target date to reopen that season. In the interim, all programming and exhibits have transferred to the CAM Green campus at 13 Poplar St. in Gloucester. For details about programs and to make a donation, visit capeannmuseum.org.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.