September 22, 2025
Jeff Nathanson has been named interim executive director of Richmond Art Center while José R. Rivera is on medical leave. The Board of Directors says Nathanson’s appointment will provide stability and continuity during this interim period. Details of Rivera’s condition were not disclosed.
Rivera supports the decision: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jeff, and we are on the same wavelength. Jeff’s appointment represents continuity for Richmond Art Center.”
Nathanson brings over 30 years of arts leadership experience and strong ties to the Art Center. He led the center from 1991 to 2000, and more recently curated Time & Tide: The Art of John Wehrle, a major retrospective. Most recently, he served as executive director of the Museum of Sonoma County, and before that led the Arts Council of Princeton, where he oversaw a capital campaign to build a new arts center designed by Michael Graves.
“It felt like a homecoming curating John Wehrle’s recent exhibition,” Nathanson said. He expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with staff, the board, and the community, especially with the 90th anniversary of the Richmond Art Center approaching in 2026.
Board President Nettie Hoge praised Nathanson’s deep roots with RAC and his broad experience as making him especially suited for this transitional moment. Nathanson acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly fundraising and managing Rivera’s temporary absence. But he voiced confidence in the resilience of RAC and its community.
Since 1936, Richmond Art Center has offered art classes, exhibitions, and community‐art events both at its Barrett Avenue campus and off‐site, including partnerships with local schools.
