CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Museum of Art has a new leader at the helm of its board of trustees: Virginia “Gini” Barbato.
A familiar and trusted name at the institution since joining the board in 2003, Barbato steps into the role of chair following Ellen Stirn Mavec, whose tenure was marked by record fundraising and major strategic initiatives that helped reshape the museum’s future.
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“Her deep history with the CMA and her wide-ranging relationships nationally and internationally will be invaluable as we enter the museum’s next chapter,” said William M. Griswold, the CMA’s director and president, in a statement Wednesday.
Barbato brings with her an impressive record of arts leadership in both Cleveland and New York City. She serves on the boards of the Frick Collection and the Metropolitan Opera.
At CMA, she has chaired the collections committee, guided education initiatives and lent her expertise on the finance and executive committees.
Her leadership is complemented by her philanthropy: With her husband Randy, she endowed the CMA’s deputy director and chief curator role, while her family’s Nord Fund has made lasting investments in conservation, education and community access.
That legacy runs deep.
From supporting the Nord Family Greenway to helping establish the CMA’s Community Arts Center, Barbato’s imprint is visible across the museum’s campus and mission.
She also leads the Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund, serves on the board of the Nord Family Foundation and contributes her voice to organizations ranging from the Cleveland Orchestra to Ideastream Public Media.
Barbato succeeds Mavec, whose “Chair’s Challenge” set a new bar for philanthropy at the CMA — funding endowed positions, exhibitions and even a full renovation of the museum’s lobby. Mavec calls the momentum built over the past three years “especially meaningful” and says she is confident Barbato is the right leader to carry it forward.
For Barbato, the new role is both a continuation and a chance to shape what’s next for the CMA. With her mix of experience, vision and deep Cleveland roots, the museum’s board is positioned to keep building on its promise as one of the city’s cultural crown jewels.
