NEW YORK, NY.- In its sixtieth anniversary year, Aperture announced the appointment of Sarah McNear as the Foundation’s first Education Director. Sarah will begin at Aperture on October 1, consolidating the Foundation’s existing education activities, and developing and managing new education programs and partnerships.

McNear comes to Aperture Foundation with thirty years of experience in museums and cultural non-­‐profits, with a specialization in photography. She has organized over forty exhibitions, and has held positions at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Allentown Art Museum, the LaSalle Bank Photography Collection, and the Museum of Modern Art, where she was the Beaumont and Nancy Newhall Fellow in Photography. Most recently, McNear served as the Deputy Director of the 92nd Street YMHA’s School of the Arts, as well as the Director of its Art Center. Prior to these roles, she was Director of the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago, after which she became Director at the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Center for Continuing Education.

McNear is the author of several books including, Barbara Crane: The Loop (LaSalle Bank Photography Collection, 2001), The Angle of Repose: Four American Photographers in Egypt (LaSalle Bank Photography Collection, 2000), and Jacqueline Hassink: Mindscapes (Berkhauser Press, Basel and Princeton University Press, 2003). She has served on advisory committees for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Art-­‐in-­‐Architecture Program for the U.S. General Administration, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. She holds an M.A. and B.A. in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania.

Chris Boot, Executive Director of Aperture, states: “Everything that Aperture does has an underlying education purpose, inciting interest and engagement with the art and history of photography; but until now, we’ve not had anyone whose role is dedicated to education. We’re absolutely thrilled to have someone of Sarah’s caliber on board, to fulfill the organization’s education potential, build new partnerships, and lead our education programming into the future. She brings exceptional experience in both arts education and photography, and she will have a major impact on the organization’s evolving platforms and initiatives. Please join us in welcoming Sarah to Aperture.”