Nisa Mackie has been appointed as the Edward John Noble Foundation Deputy Director of Learning and Engagement, overseeing MoMA’s Department of Learning and Audience Engagement. The role was formerly known as the Edward John Noble Foundation Deputy Director for Education; thenew title emphasizes the Museum’s commitment to centering audience engagement and the impact of its programs on the communities it serves. Mackie will lead her teams to reimagine museum learning and public engagement in this moment and beyond.
Mackie joined the Museum after holding several roles at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, first as Director and Curator of Education and Public Programs and, most recently, as Head of Public Engagement, Learning, and Impact. Throughout her time at the Walker, Mackie developed and oversaw innovative artist residencies, public programs, teen learning, children and family programs, and experiments in on-site and online engagement and interpretation, infusing community capacity-building and culturally responsive learning strategies with the international remit of the museum to build deeper relationships with audiences locally, nationally, and internationally.
Before her time at the Walker, Nisa worked at the Biennale of Sydney as Head of Education and Public Programs, developing programs, hosting artist and scholar residencies, and supporting college partnerships, including engaging students as primary educators for the Biennale’s on-site mediation program. Prior to her role at the Biennale, she worked at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre as Producer, Public and Education Program. Mackie has served on boards and advisory groups for Museums and Galleries New South Wales and Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group, among others. She has a master of art in sculpture, performance and installation, and art theory from the College of Fine Art, University of New South Wales, and also holds a bachelor’s in creative arts administration from Macquarie University, New South Wales.