The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Expands Its Board of Trustees
Amherst, MA — The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is pleased to announce 30the election of two new members to its Board of Trustees: H. Nichols B. Clark and Robert Forbes. These new members will join a diverse board of professionals who create and manage The Carle’s strategic and fundraising goals while raising awareness and support for Museum programs.
H. Nichols B. “Nick” Clark was the founding director of The Carle for its first six years, helping to establish picture book illustration as an important art and literary form in the U.S. Starting in 2008, Clark turned his full focus to his curatorial role, significantly building The Carle’s permanent collection and creating exhibitions that have now traveled around the world. In 2015, Clark retired from The Carle, but continues to guest curate and lecture in his new role as Founding Director and Chief Curator Emeritus. Before coming to The Carle, Clark was the chair of education at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and before that he was curator of American art at the Chrysler Museum in Virginia. Clark recently curated an exhibition for the Brandywine River Museum and serves on the board of directors of The North Bennet Street School in Boston. He is now executive director of the new Ashley Bryan Center in Islesford, Maine.
Robert Forbes joined Forbes Media, his family’s business, in 1975, serving as vice president; he was also president of the lifestyle magazine ForbesLife until Forbes Media LLC was sold in July 2014. Forbes is a member of the Rockefeller University Council in New York City and The Four Arts Society of Palm Beach, Florida. He is also a member of the board of the SS United States Conservancy, serves on the advisory board of the Empire State Center for the Book, and is on the board of the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Forbes is an author and has published three books, Beast Friends Forever!, Let’s Have a Bite!, and Beastly Feasts!, all illustrated by the late Ronald Searle. In 2015, Forbes and his wife Lydia Forbes chaired The Carle Honors, an annual fundraising event in New York.
“We are thrilled to bring two such distinguished professionals on to The Carle’s board,” said Chairman Christopher B. Milne. “Nick has tremendous experience in the museum world and is one of the premiere art historians focused on picture books today. Bob Forbes’s long and fascinating career in media will be a great asset to The Carle, as well as his experience as a leader of non-profits. Both men bring passion for art and literacy to their role and a commitment to help The Carle grow its influence.”
ABOUT THE MUSEUM
The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy. Eric and his late wife Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Since opening, the 43,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. The Carle houses more than 13,000 objects, including 6,600 permanent collection illustrations. The Carle has three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country and Master’s degree programs in children’s literature with Simmons College. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during MA school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-559-6300 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.
