Meet the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art’s new executive director

After acting as interim executive director since June 2025, Dr. Daryl Ward will officially become executive director of the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (The AGB).

Ward brings decades of experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and the arts to the role. Here are five things to know about The AGB’s new leader:

1. Ward was most recently executive director of the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance
2. The Polk County native holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a master’s from University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. from University of South Florida
3. He’s an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College and accomplished photographer
4. He spent 32 years with Polk County Public Schools, and seven years as principal of Harrison School for the Arts
5. As interim director, Ward focused on education + community engagement initiatives like the Ela’s Forest project and the FSC Voices Symposium

Discover more of Dr. Ward’s story, and how FSC decided to stick with the interim director following a nationwide search.

More on Dr. Ward