Mannes, a 12-year resident of Westport, has an extensive background in publishing, leadership, community outreach, and fundraising for local causes, the news release said.

In addition, she has been collecting art for over two decades and has been recognized by ARTnews as one of the top 30 young contemporary art collectors in America, according to the news release.

Since relocating to Westport, Mannes has served as a long-time leader in Westport Public Schools’ Parent-Teacher Association, according to MoCA. It said for the past 25 years, Mannes has cultivated an extensive network of art world experiences and connections, which she expects to extend to the community.

“Welcoming Mannes to the team ushers in a renewed focus on community, with exciting changes to come regarding the museum admission structure, membership benefits, and more,” the news release said.

Mannes has her work cut out for her in winning back Westport artists who make up the Artists Collective of Westport.

Miggs Burroughs, one of the collective’s founders, recalls that his father, Bernard Burroughs, was president in the 1950s of the original WAC, known as the Westport Artists Club, and championed local artists.

“I am deeply saddened by what I consider to be a betrayal of this tradition by today’s WAC/MoCA,” he told WestportNow.

He said the last four years has shown “the methodical destruction of all the good will, community engagement and support of local talent that the former artistic director of WAC, Helen Klisser During, worked so passionately to create and preserve.”

He said regardless of how capable the new executive director may be, it is questionable how much progress can ever be made to repair the damage that has been done over the past four years unless board members who enthusiastically backed initiatives of Innes resign.

Bill Felton, the MoCA board chairman, said the leadership change will result in new efforts to improve ties to the local community.

“After the move to a new space, all of us at MoCA Westport see now as the time to be the engaging hub of creativity we envision for the Westport community, Fairfield County and beyond,” he said according to the MoCA news release.

“We are very excited to have Ruth lead us in this key stage of growth.”