Recently Nasher Sculpture Center Director Jeremy Strick was kidded about his seniority among the Dallas Arts District’s leadership. When the person added, “It’s been a dozen years?” Jeremy laughed and said, “No, nearly 15.”
Today he confirmed plans to retire from his position on Saturday, June 1, just ten days before celebrating his 69th birthday.
In addition to overseeing a countless number of exhibitions, during his tenure at the Nasher he created such programs as the family-friendly The Great Create, the internationally renowned Nasher Prize Award, Nasher Windows, Nasher Arts Grants and the Nasher Salon Series featuring such speakers as Lauren Bacall, Isabella Rossellini, Kevin Bacon and an up-and-coming Lin-Manuel Miranda.
It was during Bacall’s visit that Jeremy found himself minding her pet Papillion, Sophie, while the great dame of the cinema chatted on stage with Michael Cain.
And, yes, he has led the Nasher through its tumultuous relationship with cross-the-street Museum Tower that caused the Salon to be put on a hiatus that turned out to be permanent.
Over the years, Jeremy has not limited his presence to just the Nasher. He supported other groups including next-door neighbor Dallas Art Museum, Klyde Warren Park, Business Council for the Arts, Dallas Contemporary, VNA of Texas and TACA, to name a few.
Why, in 2013, he even took a giant leap into the unknown by serving as a judge at the Mad Hatter’s Tea.
While his plans for the future are still in the development stage, he told “Dallas Morning News’” hardest working arts reporter Michael Granberry that he and his wife Wendy Strick “intend to stay [in Dallas].”
As Jeremy told Mike, “We have no plans to move at this point. We love Dallas. We have lots of friends here, and there’s work to be done here. I don’t have a timeline, but we’re planning to stay for at least the foreseeable future.”