Susan Edwards standing in stairwell



Susan H. Edwards, PhD served as the Frist Art Museum’s Executive Director and CEO for nearly eighteen years, retiring in 2022. We are forever grateful for her leadership and devotion to the Frist’s mission.

To recognize and honor Susan’s service to the museum, the Frist is creating the Susan H. Edwards Curatorial Fellowship Endowment. Susan has long been a tireless advocate for education, mentorship, and reducing barriers to the arts. At the Frist, she committed to paying our interns and fellows, setting the Frist ahead of many museum peers. As we know, if internships are unpaid, only those who enjoy strong financial backing are able to enter the museum field. Paying interns and fellows increases access to the arts and improves the entire artistic landscape.


About our Curatorial Fellowship Program

The Frist Art Museum’s fellowship program was created to introduce an emerging professional to the process of researching, planning, and implementing an exhibition. These paid fellowships are open to college seniors, recent graduates who intend to continue to graduate school, and graduate students. 

Our curatorial fellowship program has been an unqualified success. Enjoy this video of recent fellow Chase Williamson talking about her experience.


We need your support!

Our goal is to fully endow the Susan H. Edwards Curatorial Fellowship, which requires $350,000 in support.

We hope you will join us in celebrating Susan’s legacy at the Frist Art Museum by ensuring we continue to inspire young students as they explore the possibilities, joys, and rewards of a life lived in art.


You can also send a check with the note “Susan Endowment” to Alyssa Blades, Assistant Director of Development, 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203, or contact her at ablades@fristartmuseum.org for an invoice.

We are grateful in advance for your interest and support.


DONATE. GIVE. SUPPORT.
Please consider supporting the Frist Art Museum with a donation. Your gift is essential to our mission of serving the community through the arts and art access in particular. We truly appreciate your generosity.