Executive Director for Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms To Step Down In The Fall
by Kate Nixon
In times of hardship, faces of resilience have shown themselves in the past five years in their responses to the natural disasters of Covid-19, tropical storm damage, and other challenges facing the field of historic preservation. One such face known to many arts and crafts collectors will step down from her role as Executive Director in the fall season after an inspiring seventeen years of service to historic preservation, but will do so with a celebratory sendoff.
Sunrise over the Log House on the grounds of The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. Photo Courtesy of Vonda Givens.
Vonda Givens will leave her role as Executive Director at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms on Oct. 4th. Photo courtesy of Vonda Givens.
In an email sent by Barbara Weiskittel, President of Craftsman Farms’ Board of Trustees, it was announced that Vonda Givens, Executive Director of Parsippany’s own Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, will step down in November of this year after ten years of strong and inspiring leadership. On Saturday, October 4th, the same day as the museum’s annual autumn fundraiser, Vonda’s successes will be celebrated as part of the event.
Weiskittel writes “Vonda has been a visionary and resilient leader, first as our Education Director and then as Executive Director. Over the past decade, she has led the museum with creativity, dedication, and strength—especially during some of our most challenging moments. From navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, which shuttered in-person operations, to leading the construction of a new education center and then overseeing the rebuilding of the Annex, following Tropical Storm Isaias, Vonda’s leadership has been both steadfast and inspiring. Under Vonda’s leadership, the museum saw significant advancement as a museum and achieved major strides in the restoration and preservation of Craftsman Farms.
Among the many supporters of the Stickley Museum’s goal to continue research into the ongoing legacy of Gustav Stickley, is the Arts and Crafts Research Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to help financially support studies about the figures and the works made from the American Arts and Crafts movement.
The Stickley Museum’s Board of Trustees has formed a search committee and has started the process of selecting the next Executive Director of The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. Vonda will remain in her role through the fall and will work closely with the Board and staff to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
As scheduled, Vonda and her team will continue to lead through the upcoming Farms Afield programs The Lake George Retreat in the Adirondacks, the newly announced trip to Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, the virtual tour of the Hollyhock House, iin person Director’s Tours of the museum, and additional offerings through the fall season of 2025.
For more information on how to support the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, please visit stickleymuseum.org/
Editor’s note: On a personal note, of all the scholars, directors, collectors and persons of expertise I have worked with, Vonda is among the most memorable for her reliable enthusiasm, her resilience, and her strength of character. I have no doubt that she will continue her tradition of excellence in the next chapter of her life. I posted the above video – a session she did for Arts & Crafts In August last year – as an example of her dedication.
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