Anne Chafe, chief executive officer of The Rooms museum and art gallery, will retire in May after nearly 20 years in leadership roles at the institution.
She assumed the position of interim CEO in July 2019 and secured the permanent role in June 2020, almost a year following the provincial government’s dismissal of previous CEO Dean Brinton without stated reasons.
Key Achievements During Her Tenure
Under Chafe’s leadership, The Rooms introduced three new permanent exhibitions:
- Here We Made a Home in the Elinor Gill Ratcliffe Gallery;
- From This Place: Our Lives on Land and Sea in the Cenovus Energy Gallery;
- Beaumont-Hamel and the Trail of the Caribou: Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Overseas and at Home, 1918–1949 in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Gallery.
These initiatives highlight her efforts to enrich the cultural offerings at the facility.
Recognition from Leaders
Tourism Minister Andrea Barbour praised Chafe as a “thoughtful steward of one of the province’s most important public institutions” in a recent statement. Barbour also noted Chafe’s role in navigating the organization through significant transitions.
Margaret Allan, chair of The Rooms board of directors, emphasized the enduring impact of Chafe’s work. “Her contributions to the organization are immeasurable,” Allan stated.
Next Steps for Leadership
The tourism department plans to collaborate with The Rooms board and the Independent Appointments Commission to identify and appoint a successor.
