Assistant Director, Glen Foerd on the Delaware
29, Philadelphia
Once determined to be an economics major, Trent Rhodes took an art class in college and abruptly changed course. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Delaware’s Winterthur program, furthering his understanding of the American arts—knowledge he’d make effective use of as a grants associate at the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Chadds Ford.
For almost two years at the museum, Rhodes worked to secure more than $2.5 million in funding for historic artists’ studios, educational programs, research and exhibitions like this year’s Votes for Women. His grant work helped support the continuation of Sensory-Friendly Saturdays, geared toward children on the autism spectrum and those with sensory processing differences. The more intimate family-friendly experiences include hands-on activities overseen by graduate students in occupational therapy. The goal is for “children on the autism spectrum to have the same opportunities as their neurotypical peers,” says Rhodes.
Those experiences should bolster Rhodes in his new role as assistant director of Glen Foerd on the Delaware. The historic estate was built in 1850 and today serves as a venue and museum. “My first focus for Glen Foerd is to start bringing in more people,” he says. “It has a very well-established reputation as a venue for weddings, but the museum and the public park aspects of it are actually not as appreciated as they could be. I do think small museums have a lot to offer, and many of them are underutilized right now.
