Phillip Bahar has been appointed as the fourth director of the Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, succeeding previous leadership since the museum opened in 2012. In an interview with WKAR's Inside The Arts, Bahar discussed his vision for the museum, emphasizing his role as an institutional curator rather than a hands-on curator of exhibitions, and his commitment to supporting artists at all career stages, from established figures like Zaha Hadid to emerging and mid-career artists such as Diana Al-Hadid.
This appointment matters because the Broad Art Museum serves as the only contemporary art museum in its region and a key cultural resource for Michigan State University students and the broader community. Bahar's background at Chicago Humanities, the Walker Art Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago positions him to strengthen the museum's role as a civic hub that connects art, ideas, and innovation, potentially shaping the next chapter of the institution's programming and community engagement.