Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: ERIK H. NEIL

MACON AND JOAN BROCK DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT, CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART, NORFOLK

Published August 30, 2023 by Virginia Business

Neil has been director of the Chrysler Museum of Art since 2014, but his title changed in late 2022 when the position was endowed through a $34 million gift to the museum. He’s now the Macon and Joan Brock director, with the post named for the late Dollar Tree founder and his widow, Joan, both of whom were longtime museum supporters.

The gift is also helping to pay for an 18,000-square-foot expansion of the museum’s Perry Glass Studio, which will triple its size. The Chrysler held a $55 million capital campaign and received support from the city and state to finance the project, which broke ground in March.

In December, the Chrysler will be the first U.S. venue to host a traveling exhibition of Paul McCartney’s photographs, capturing Beatlemania in its earliest years.

Neil has a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University and a master’s degree and doctorate in art and architecture history from Harvard University. He speaks French, German and Italian.

FIRST JOB: Busboy at Washington Golf & Country Club in Arlington

HOBBY/PASSION: I love traveling, especially to Italy.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: Trust but verify.

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