HARTZ ASSUMES LEADERSHIP OF U.VA.'S BAYLY ART MUSEUM

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 10 -- Jill Hartz, who has been
serving as interim director of the University of Virginia's Bayly Art
Museum since January, has been tapped to lead the facility.  She will
begin her new role Sept. 15.
	In making the announcement, U.Va. Vice President and Provost
Peter W. Low said, "The search committee and I were particularly
impressed with Jill's energy, her experience with collegiate
collections, and her ideas for integrating the Bayly with the academic
enterprise."
	Since assuming the interim position, Hartz has created a print
and study gallery at the Bayly for use by faculty, students and
scholars.  She also installed a major interactive video installation,
"A Holy Experiment" by the artist Beth B, which is currently on view
at the Bayly, and organized "The Value of Place" symposium, a Sept. 13
event funded by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public
Policy.
	"I am thrilled to be appointed director.  I look forward to
making the museum a more visible and exciting presence at the
University and the larger community," Hartz said.  "As a university
museum, the Bayly has a unique cross-disciplinary role to play.
Through our exhibitions, programs and collection priorities, we can
bring together a variety of academic
disciplines to enhance appreciation of art, as well as many other
subjects."
	"I look forward to working with Jill Hartz on the continued
development of the Bayly Art Museum and its integration with
University departments," said Associate Provost Shirley L. Menaker,
who oversees the Bayly.  "Since Jill assumed the position on an
interim basis, she has
worked closely with faculty to enhance the curricular aspects of the
museum and has overseen an exciting exhibits schedule."
OVER
	A writer and public relations specialist, Hartz has been
serving as director of communications in U.Va.'s Arts and Sciences
Development Office.  Prior to joining U.Va. in 1994, she worked at
Cornell University's Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art for 10 years.
From 1986 to 1993, she was director of public relations and
publications and organized major exhibitions at the Johnson Museum.
She was also public relations and special programs
coordinator for Cornell's Council for the Arts.
	"I feel extremely fortunate to be involved with the arts at
this time in the University's history.  Thanks to special funding
initiatives in Madison Hall, we are strengthening our programs and
creating new means of collaboration in the visual and performing arts.
Along with drama, music and art, we are studying facility needs and
beginning to develop plans for the renovation and expansion of the
Bayly Art Museum," Hartz said.
	Noting that gaining national accreditation for the Bayly is a
priority, Hartz has established task forces in collections,
exhibitions, and education to involve the museum's constituents in the
accreditation process.
	She replaces Anthony G. Hirschel, who left in mid-January to
become director of Emory University's Michael C. Carlos Museum.
	Hartz, who studied at Oberlin College, earned a M.A. with
honors in English language and literature in 1973 from the University
of St. Andrews in Scotland.
	She is married to Richard Herskowitz, director of the Virginia
Film Festival.  The couple has a 9-year-old daughter, Sophie.
###
September 9, 1997

           Television news reporters should call our TV News Office at
(804) 924-7550.