Kerrie Bellisario to Depart Haan Museum of Indiana Art
The Haan Museum of Indiana Art executive director will step down from her leadership role on October 23, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Fine Art
Executive Director Kerrie Bellisario is stepping down from the Haan Museum of Indiana Art in Lafayette on October 23, 2026. She will transition to a new role leading an art and design learning center at the Maine College of Art and Design.
Why it matters
The leadership change follows a significant period of growth for the museum, which saw its annual visitor numbers more than double during Bellisario's two-and-a-half-year tenure.
During her tenure, the annual visitor count at the Haan Museum of Indiana Art surged from approximately 2,000 to over 5,600. Bellisario served as executive director for a total of two and a half years.
The players
Kerrie Bellisario
She is the departing executive director of the Haan Museum of Indiana Art who will soon lead a learning center at the Maine College of Art and Design.
Cheryl Kaldahl
She is a local Lafayette artist and musician who will step in as the interim executive director for the museum.
Haan Museum of Indiana Art
This museum is located in Lafayette and specializes in the preservation and exhibition of works by Indiana artists.
The details
Bellisario oversaw the implementation of the Museums without Walls project and the Your Indiana exhibit, while successfully establishing a new partnership with First Merchant Bank. Lafayette artist and musician Cheryl Kaldahl has been appointed to serve as the interim executive director following the departure.
Timeline
October 23, 2026: The final day for Kerrie Bellisario as the Haan Museum of Indiana Art executive director.
Industry Dynamics
The leadership change at the Haan Museum of Indiana Art reflects a broader trend of cross-regional talent exchange between cultural institutions and academic design centers. Bellisario's transition to the Maine College of Art and Design highlights the increasing intersection between traditional museum curation and specialized arts education.
Local visitors and museum members can expect a transition period as Cheryl Kaldahl assumes the interim leadership role. The museum's current programming and partnership operations will continue under the new management structure.
The takeaway
Visitors to local cultural institutions often benefit from the fresh perspectives brought by evolving leadership teams. The success of the recent exhibits demonstrates how dedicated management can significantly expand community engagement with historical art collections.
Further reading
Learn more about local cultural developments in the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLFI News 18.
