JACKSONVILLE, FLA.- The Board of Trustees of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens announces it has appointed Kimberly “Kim” Noble, MBA, CFM to be the museum’s new George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer. Noble has been serving as the Cummer Museum’s interim director and CEO since May 2025. She was officially appointed to the position by the board after an analysis of her successful performance leading the museum as interim.

“Under Kim’s exceptional leadership as interim, the museum surpassed its performance measures along with many peer benchmarks bringing unbridled joy to so many while they explored and experienced the museum galleries, exhibitions and its historic and remarkable gardens and grounds,” said Michael Munz, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. “We see her strong financial background and skills combined with our arts and culture leadership as a wonderful and unique team that will creatively and innovatively lead the museum into its next chapter.”

Noble is a seasoned finance professional who has worked in both the nonprofit industry and in financial leadership at Fortune 500 companies before joining the Cummer Museum in 2021 as its CFO. She is also a proud Jacksonville native whose family history in Florida stretches back generations. After graduating from the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business with an MBA in finance and security analysis, she returned to Jacksonville to work in roles at Regency Centers, Southeastern Grocers/Winn-Dixie, Johnson & Johnson, CSX, and St. Johns Country Day School. She brings both a passion for community and financial acumen to her new role.

“Having led teams across both Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations, I know that while sound fiscal responsibility is essential, long-term success comes from aligning resources with our mission, building trust, and stewarding community partnerships that stand the test of time,” said Noble. “Our talented leadership team is committed to ensuring the Cummer Museum upholds these principles and continues its legacy as Jacksonville’s landmark cultural institution for generations to come. I am honored to lead this incredible organization that has a profoundly positive impact on the lives of so many people in our community. From the children who attend summer camp to our seniors who attend through our partnership with the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) and its member organizations, the Cummer Museum is a place where people build connections and memories.”

The Cummer Museum’s leadership team brings decades of experience in the arts and culture, nonprofit and corporate sectors, resulting in the Cummer Museum’s success in the first half of 2025. Earlier this year, Noble introduced a financial plan designed to surpass peer benchmarks in the museum industry. This plan strengthens the museum’s tradition of sound financial stewardship by leveraging its strong balance sheet and healthy endowment performance. Under her leadership, the museum is entering Ninah Cummer’s 150th Birthday year and, in 2026, its 65th anniversary, with energy, momentum and financial strength. With a 6% increase in second quarter attendance compared to the same period of 2024, the launch of new initiatives like Sensory-friendly Sunday, and meaningful donations from local and national funders, including more than $600,000 for parts of the capital repair and improvement plan, the museum is continuing and strengthening its legacy as Jacksonville’s landmark cultural institution.

Cummer Museum 2025 Highlights:

· Launched implementation of its new strategic plan, which promises to build upon its legacy for a strong future.

· Hosted Summer at the Cummer Fridays with record-breaking attendance – up 59% over 2024 – including evenings with lines stretching down Riverside Avenue. Citi sponsored this year’s series, which welcomed more than 5,000 guests with free admission, live music, engaging programs, and meaningful collaborations with local partners.

· Celebrated the museum’s 30th annual Arts for All Festival, held in May. This continues to be one of the museum’s most inspiring events, cumulatively providing meaningful arts and gardens experiences to nearly 44,000 children with varied abilities throughout its history.

· Hosted a highly successful summer camp series, with strong enrollment and five of eight weeks reaching full capacity. Thanks to donor-funded scholarships, 7% of participants were able to attend who otherwise might not have had the opportunity.

· Marked a 25-year milestone for its nationally recognized Women of Vision program, with a commemorative catalogue highlighting the artwork and stories of the women who are blind or have low vision, thanks to ongoing support from the W.W. and Eloise Gay Foundation.

· Launched a sensory-friendly Sunday experience and a reinvigorated Artful Moments program, serving individuals living with dementia and their caregivers through a partnership with the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) and member organizations ElderSource and the Memory Disorder Clinic at Mayo Clinic, supported by the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Foundation.

· Received generous donations from some of Jacksonville’s most prominent families, including 18 works of art from the estate of the late Helen Lane.

· A recent $1 million endowed gift from an anonymous donor – now fully vested – will fund care and programming for the museum’s historically significant gardens.

· Secured a major grant from a national foundation for the first two phases of its multi-year capital repair and improvement plan. The matching requirement was surpassed by 30% - a year ahead of schedule. This $600K total investment funded air handling units for the facility.

· Earned reaccreditation from the prestigious American Alliance of Museums, a distinction bestowed on only 1,102 of the 33,000 art museums, 56 of which are in Florida.