Phillip Bahar

Phillip Bahar is deeply committed to the role museums play in inspiring, educating, and considering the vital issues of our time. His passion is creating community and connection through art and the visions of artists, performers, and singular thinkers. 

Phillip has been a cultural leader his entire career, bringing a wide experience in museums, the live arts, and humanities institutions to the MSU Broad Art Museum. Most recently, he served as president and executive director of Chicago Humanities, which presents seasonal festivals featuring the most compelling authors, artists, policymakers, and thought-leaders of our time. Under his leadership, Chicago Humanities became a year-round presenter, doubled participation and membership, expanded its presence across Chicago neighborhoods, and deepened its university and institutional partnerships. Presenting 100+ events annually, during his tenure Chicago Humanities featured artists such as Marina Abramović, Theaster Gates, Miranda July, Sally Mann, Patti Smith, Hebru Brantley, and Ai Weiwei, alongside initiatives highlighting Chicago artists, communities, and concerns. 

Phillip was previously chief of operations and administration at the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, MN), where he oversaw the visitor experience and led the Walker’s operations and administrative functions, as well as food service and the Walker Shop. He served as a primary liaison with the City of Minneapolis, neighborhood and community associations, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board—the Walker’s partner on the iconic Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. He has also held leadership roles with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Performing Arts Chicago, and the Kitchen Center for the Arts (New York, NY).  

Phillip has served on the Board of Arts Alliance Illinois and co-founded the Art Museum Marketing Association (2008). He has been an active volunteer leader with the American Alliance of Museums (serving on the annual conference host committee, national program committee, and as chair of the public relations and marketing committee) and the Economic Club of Chicago (serving on the membership and questions committees). He is an alumnus of the Getty Leadership Institute and National Art Strategies CEO Program, and teaches courses in museum studies as a lecturer with Johns Hopkins University. 

He holds an M.A. in Arts Management (Columbia University) and a B.A. in Art History/Psychology (Brandeis University).