Robin Freeman Brings 20 Years of Arts Non-Profit Experience to the Role

San Francisco, September 3, 2024 —The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (the “Fine Arts Museums”), comprising the de Young and the Legion of Honor, today announced the appointment of Robin Freeman as the organization’s first Chief Marketing Officer (“CMO”), effective October 1. Freeman joins the Fine Arts Museums with more than 20 years of experience in the arts nonprofit sector, most recently serving as the San Francisco Symphony’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. A member of the Fine Arts Museums’ Senior Leadership team, as CMO Freeman will oversee the work of the marketing, communications, visitor experience, group tourism and sales, and graphic design teams; with a particular focus on institutional brand development and audience growth.

“After an extensive national search, it is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Robin Freeman as the Fine Arts Museums’ first Chief Marketing Officer. We are thrilled to bring Robin’s seasoned arts leadership, creative vision, and visitor advocacy to the museums as we continue to serve Bay Area audiences and rebuild tourism engagement, enriching the lives of communities near and far through our collections, exhibitions, and programs,” states Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

“I am delighted to be joining the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco at this exciting moment in the institution’s long and impactful history. As a longtime fan and visitor to the de Young and the Legion of Honor, I’m looking forward to immersing myself fully in the local, national, and international visual art community,” added Robin Freeman. “The San Francisco Bay Area’s enthusiastic embrace of the arts is one of the primary reasons I have chosen to make my life and career in this beautiful city, and I cannot wait to work with Tom and the entire team to build even deeper connections between our region’s residents and visitors and the powerful experiences provided by the Fine Arts Museums.”

About Robin Freeman

In the role of Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the San Francisco Symphony, Freeman oversaw the areas of Marketing & Sales, Public Relations, Editorial, Creative, Front of House, and Patron Services, establishing comprehensive strategies to build the SF Symphony’s attendance and earned revenue while providing best-in-class visitor experience. Significant accomplishments of her CMCO tenure include leading efforts to rebuild attendance after the pandemic, implementing new data-driven audience development programs, and spearheading patron-centric research and programming initiatives. In prior roles from 2016–2022, Freeman led the San Francisco Symphony’s Media Relations, Publications and Editorial, Video Production, and Archives and Records Management departments. 

Prior to joining the SF Symphony, Freeman supported Marketing, Communications, and Artistic Operations at San Francisco Opera, Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center, Carnegie Hall, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood Music Center.

Freeman holds a Professional Certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, was an elected member of the Emerging Leaders Program of the League of American Orchestras, and holds a Bachelor in Music from Wheaton College.

About the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Together, the de Young in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park make up the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the largest public arts institution in the city and one of the largest in the United States. Both are located on the land of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula.

Opened in 1895, the de Young is home to American art from the 17th century through today; textile arts and costumes; African art; Oceanic art; arts of the Americas, and international contemporary art. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, the Legion of Honor displays European painting; sculpture; and decorative arts; ancient art; works on paper; and contemporary art.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are located on land unceded by the Ramaytush Ohlone, who are the original inhabitants of what is now the San Francisco Peninsula. The greater Bay Area is also the ancestral territory of other Ohlone peoples, as well as the Miwok, Yokuts, and Patwin. We acknowledge, recognize, and honor the Indigenous ancestors, elders, and descendants whose nations and communities have lived in the Bay Area over many generations and continue to do so today. We respect the enduring relationships that exist between Indigenous peoples and their homelands. We are committed to partnering with Indigenous communities to raise awareness of their legacy and engage with the history of the region, the impacts of genocide, and the dynamics of settler colonialism that persist today.

Media Inquiries

Helena Nordstrom, Director of Communications, hnordstrom@famsf.org