Do you know anyone who owns an original Cézanne, Matisse or Picasso? Meredith Kablick ’06 does. As an Assistant for Exhibitions Administration at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. (you know, that place with the only Da Vinci painting in the Western Hemisphere), Kablick works with private art collectors and institutions to create world-class exhibitions and then offer them free of charge to the public.
The arts management alum held multiple internships in college before making the move to D.C. a few years after graduation. At the National Gallery, she combines her love for fine arts with her knack for logistical planning to bring incredible exhibitions to millions of yearly visitors.
Q: What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
A: I work in the Department of Exhibitions and we handle all the administrative details for traveling exhibitions. An exhibition will come about when a curator creates a concept for an exhibition, then our department will logistically make it a reality.
We send loan requests to lenders, handle the legal, insurance and shipping components and we coordinate with the other departments in the Gallery to bring the exhibitions together.
Kablick at work in the National Gallery
Q: Is your office in the Gallery?
A: Yes, my office is in the East Building, which is the modern building designed by I. M. Pei. Our office faces the U.S. Capitol!
Q: What do you like most about your position?
A: I have really wonderful coworkers. It’s also really fun to be involved in the production of these exhibits from start to finish – we work on such a long timeline, for example I’m working on exhibitions now that are scheduled for 2016, 2017, 2018, and it’s really cool to see them go from their origination as a concept to existing on the walls of the Gallery. It’s fulfilling to be a part of the process of creating a unique exhibition that people come from all over the world to see.
Q: What was the first exhibition you were involved in from start to finish?
A: My first exhibition is actually on the walls right now. I started about two years ago and our curator of American art was creating an Andrew Wyeth exhibition called “Looking Out, Looking In.” I sent out loan letters, we got approvals and then logistically organized it and now it’s hanging up. It’s really cool to see exhibitions through and to develop relationships with lenders and see all the behind-the-scenes work that, as a visitor, you’d never know went into the exhibition.
Q: What upcoming exhibition are you most excited about?
A: There’s a Cézanne portraits exhibition that’s coming in 2018 and I’m excited about that one because I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, which is where Cézanne’s studio is. I’ve always loved his work and I’ve had such a long-term interest in him, so now being able to work on this exhibition is really cool.
“Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” by Edgar Degas, on display at the National Gallery. Photo from the National Gallery
Q: How did you find out about your position?
A: I heard about this position through USA Jobs, which is where you have to apply for all federal positions. It’s such a bear getting through that process – any federal employee will tell you. There are so many hoops you have to jump through to get hired. I applied in February, didn’t officially get hired until June and I started in July 2012. You have to be really patient if you want to work for the federal government.
Q: What do you think made you stand out from other applicants?
A: I think my background was a huge plus. Before I worked here I was a registrar at the Charleston Renaissance Gallery, so I already had a background in loans administration and sales and I was already dealing with private collectors. You have to be discrete in dealing with collectors and know how to maintain a level of privacy, so that experience carried over to my current position.
Q: What was it like moving from Charleston to Washington D.C.
A: It was a big change. When I lived in Charleston I could ride my bike to work. Now it’s a really long commute – I live in Maryland so it’s about an hour long. Very different from riding my bike around downtown Charleston.
Q: How do you think the College helped prepare you for your position
A: I can’t sing the praises of the Arts Management program enough. My education provided my with a business savvy relating to the arts, but it also focused on nonprofit work. The professors I had were great mentors; I still reach out to many of them for advice or just to catch up. They were really inspirational.
Q: What advice would you give to current students interested in a career in fine arts management?
A: I would say just take as many internships as possible. I think that was another reason I got hired – I was a cultural affairs fellow for the City of Charleston and I interned at art galleries. Getting as much experience as possible in your field before you graduate can only help you. Even if you take an unpaid internship and you have to start from the bottom, having that experience will set you apart.
