The Ackland Art Museum now has a leader to oversee the expansion that will almost double the museum's size.
Emily Kass, who served as the executive director of the Tampa Museum of Art from 1996 to 2005, will become the director of the Ackland beginning Oct. 16.
Kass has a background in fundraising - she led a campaign that raised $62 million while at the Tampa Museum of Art. Her experience will be utilized as the Ackland looks to raise $25 million in private funding for its expansion.
"That was one of the big draws in me coming," Kass said.
The Ackland holds 15,000 pieces of art that Kass wants to make available for public viewing.
"We've got to make that expansion happen," she said. "I know my role is to make sure it gets done."
However, Kass isn't just looking to display what the Ackland has - she wants to expand its collection as well.
"It's safe to say that we always want to keep adding to the collection," she said.