Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia Hires New Director

The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia has hired a new director after the position went unfilled for eight months. Former director and chief executive Stacy Burrs stepped down in January when he took a job with Venture Richmond.

The appointment of Tasha Chambers comes months before the museum plans to relocate from its location on Clay Street, to the Leigh Street Armory in January. Chambers will oversee a larger space after the move. The current location at 3 W. Clay St. is an 1832 Greek revival house, with less than 6,000 square feet for exhibits, archives and offices. The armory will have double that at 12,000 square feet.

Marilyn West, BHM board chair, says that Chambers is the ideal person to guide the museum in its move.

“We are extremely fortunate that Tasha not only comes to the BHM with an impressive skill set but also with a track record of proven commitment to the BHM as a volunteer over many years,” she says. “Her skills will be especially useful in transitioning from an existing museum to the armory site and building the staff with additional resources to preserve two historical programs — the BHM and the Leigh Street Armoury. She has hit the ground prepared to run and we have already felt her presence.”

Before her position at BHM, Chambers served as a senior public relations manager at ChildFund International. At ChildFund, she was responsible for executing the organization’s public relations and emergency communications strategies. At the height of the Ebola crisis in West Africa, she spread awareness about ChildFund’s response and post-recovery work. As a result of this work, grants were awarded to families affected by the epidemic.

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