Steven High, executive director of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, has announced his retirement after 15 years in the role. Appointed in 2011, High oversaw a period of major expansion, including the opening of the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art, the Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion, and the Turrell Skyspace Joseph’s Coat, as well as significant growth in collections, attendance, and fundraising. The museum, governed by Florida State University, saw its annual operating budget rise from $12 million to $28 million and its endowment grow from $27 million to $67 million under his leadership. High will remain in his position until a successor is found.
The retirement matters because High’s tenure transformed The Ringling into a nationally prominent institution while deepening its integration with Florida State University’s academic mission. The museum, one of the largest university-based museum complexes in the U.S., serves as Florida’s State Art Museum and attracts over 400,000 visitors annually. High’s departure marks a leadership transition at a key cultural and educational resource, with the search for his successor set to shape the museum’s future direction.