Claudia Gould, former director of New York's Jewish Museum, has been appointed as the new director of the Shaker Museum in Chatham, New York. Gould, who stepped down from her position at the Jewish Museum in 2023, will now lead one of the world's most significant collections of Shaker material culture.

The Shaker Museum is currently in the midst of an ambitious $30 million construction project to build a new flagship facility. The museum has enlisted Selldorf Architects to design the new space, the same firm that recently completed a major renovation of New York's prestigious Frick Collection. This new facility represents a major expansion for the museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing Shaker heritage.

The Shakers were a unique Christian religious sect that originated in 18th-century England before spreading to the United States. The group earned their name from the trembling movements they exhibited during their ecstatic worship services. They became renowned for their distinctive lifestyle choices, including communal living arrangements and strict celibacy practices. The Shakers were also progressive for their time, embracing beliefs in both gender and racial equality. Their cultural contributions are particularly notable in the areas of architecture, music, and furniture design, all characterized by spare, functional aesthetics that continue to influence design today.

In a phone interview, Gould expressed her enthusiasm for the unique challenges that lie ahead. She described the opportunity to build a museum from the ground up as presenting "a whole different set of challenges than restructuring an organization." Gould emphasized her goal to "move the needle without moving the mission," seeking ways to "push things in a way that's really unexpected, but also spot-on."

Gould brings extensive experience to her new role, having served as director of the Jewish Museum from 2011 to 2023. During her twelve-year tenure, she successfully oversaw a large-scale renovation of the museum, significantly increased its endowment, and developed innovative cross-disciplinary programming. Before leading the Jewish Museum, she gained valuable experience working at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia and Artists Space in New York.

Reflecting on her career transition, Gould acknowledged that this move represents an unusual shift for her professional trajectory. However, she explained that those familiar with her work will understand how this position aligns perfectly with her deep passion for design and architecture. "If people know me, they know that [this move to the Shaker Museum] makes total sense of my passion for design and architecture, and how I brought this into every institution I've worked in," Gould stated. She emphasized that she has "always worked at the intersection of these fields, and that's where my passion lies," expressing hope to bring this same sensibility to the Shaker Museum as it embarks on this new chapter.