Butler names associate director
The trustees of the Butler Institute of American Art promoted Amy Craft Klassen to associate director of the museum.
In a unanimous vote by the board, Klassen now will be responsible for the Butler’s primary administrative duties in conjunction with Executive Director Louis A. Zona, who has served in that position since 1981. Zona is not retiring.
According to a news release from the Butler, the move will allow Zona to continue his focus on donor relations, museum exhibitions, art educational programs and community outreach.
Klassen joined the Butler as director of museum operations in 2024 on the recommendation of Zona. She has decades of experience in museum management, most recently serving as executive director of The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum in St. Augustine, Florida.
The Butler was founded by Joseph G. Butler Jr. in 1919. It was the first structure built to house a collection of strictly American works.