Kris Jensen, new Director of the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, begins his new role on September 26, 2023.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Salinas
Chris@sjquiltmuseum.org
September 5, 2023 (SAN JOSE, CA) - The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is delighted to announce the appointment of San Jose native and veteran nonprofit leader Kris Jensen (he/him/his), as Director. Jensen will step into his new role on September 26, 2023. The Museum was assisted in its national search by ACG, an international executive search firm.
“The Board is thrilled that we will be working with Kris,” commented Melissa Leventon, Board Chair. “With his leadership, we are confident that the museum will be able to deepen and strengthen its bonds with our community while maintaining the high-quality exhibitions and programs it is known for internationally.”
Kris Jensen stated, “I have a passion for the arts and teaching people about the arts and bringing people into learning things they may not have known. The Museum, like so many other arts institutions, was closed for 15 months. I feel ready to take on the challenge of rebuilding audiences and reconnecting with supporters post-pandemic. I’m looking forward to getting the word out about the organization and getting people excited about quilts and textiles.”
Over his 30+-year nonprofit career, Jensen has worked in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he was Principal at Regenerative Communities Consulting, a visionary consultancy specializing in regenerative design with a focus on environmental justice, urban agriculture, and food systems change. To date, he is responsible for raising more than $35M for various community-based organizations in the Bay Area, including San Bruno Mountain Watch, Collective Roots, Avenidas, Alameda County Community Food Bank, Swords to Plowshares, and Community Services Agency.
Jensen grew up immersed in a family of makers. “My grandfather was a master woodworker, my grandmother a master weaver, my uncle a talented metal worker, and my father a respected folk artist,” he reflected. His grandmother instilled in him a love and understanding for textiles. A deeply passionate advocate for social justice, equity, and the arts, one of Jensen’s immediate priorities at the Museum will be to ensure that exhibition and community programming is approachable and reflective of San Jose’s cultural diversity.
About San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles: The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles’ mission is to preserve, celebrate, and promote knowledge about quilts and textiles, their creation, beauty, and their relationship to human culture and expression. During its 45+-year history, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles has touched the lives of more than 100,000 visitors, demonstrated fabric’s innate power to connect people of varied backgrounds, provided opportunities for cultural art engagement, and built civic connections. www.sjquiltmuseum.org and @sjmqt on Instagram.
