Dion Brown, executive director of the National Blues Museum downtown, is departing the new facility in mid February. He’ll serve as the new president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH.
In a statement, Brown said “I am proud of what our NBM team has accomplished together. I'm immensely grateful for the privilege of working with the NBM and I'm confident that everyone will come together to assure the success for this historically significant institution."
Brown is credited with raising the trajectory of the interactive museum, creating new relationships with national and local blues acts, collaborating with civic and community leaders, developing the museum’s concert series “Howlin’ Fridays” and “Soulful Sundays” and the Gateway Arch Park Foundation. He was also behind radio program “Blues Highway” on WSIE 88.7.
Brown formerly served as executive director of the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi.
Rob Endicott, the chairman of the National Blues Museum, said: “These successful programs have left an indelible mark on both our institution and the City of St. Louis. I cannot think of a more qualified individual to have been at the helm of the opening of the Museum. While we are saddened at his departure, we are certain that he'll do even more in Cincinnati and wish him every success at his new institution.” Added Jacqueline Dace, National Blues Museum's director of Internal Affairs: “I'm filled with mixed emotions about Dion's departure. On the professional level, I'm excited and extremely proud of him and his new opportunities, but on a personal level, I'm going to deeply miss my dear friend."
The Post-Dispatch profiled Brown in an April 2015 story.
The $13 million museum opened April 2, 2016.