Longtime Leader Leaves Lasting Legacy as He Embarks on New Opportunity in Texas
CARTERSVILLE, GA – August 27, 2025
The Booth Western Art Museum announces its esteemed Executive Director, Seth Hopkins, is stepping down after 25 remarkable years of dedicated service. He is leaving to pursue an exciting new opportunity in Texas. Hopkins’ visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence have profoundly shaped the museum’s trajectory, from its opening in 2003 with minimal fanfare, to becoming one of the premier art museums in America. His legacy, built on a foundation of growth, innovation, and community engagement, will continue to inspire supporters, members, and visitors at the Booth for generations to come.
Celebrating a Quarter-Century of Leadership
When Hopkins first accepted the role of Executive Director at Booth in 2000, he had no knowledge of art or museum operations. One of the Museum’s first employees, Hopkins’ hiring was a leap of faith by both Hopkins and Booth’s anonymous founder. Over the course of a quarter-century, Hopkins has become a highly respected authority on contemporary Western art. He is known for guiding the Booth through periods of exponential growth, overseeing major expansions of both physical space and artistic scope, and cultivating enduring relationships with artists, collectors, educators, musicians, and the broader art and Western communities.
Under Hopkins’ stewardship, the museum’s permanent collection grew from a private assembly of generally realistic Western-themed works to an internationally renowned repository encompassing paintings, sculptures, photography, and ephemera from some of the most celebrated and varied artists in the genre. Under his guidance, the Booth has welcomed more than 1,000,000 visitors, hosted landmark exhibitions, introduced innovative educational programming, and established itself as a “must-see” destination for anyone interested in viewing great art or exploring both the epic history and the mythos of the American West.
Major Accomplishments and Milestones
Working with a talented and dedicated staff, Hopkins has elevated Booth’s profile locally and nationally, while creating a familial network of artists, collectors, gallery owners, curators, and fellow museum professionals. His tenure has been marked by a series of significant achievements:
Institutional Growth: Guided the museum through a major expansion, more than doubling its gallery space and reenvisioning the permanent collection galleries.
- Collection Development: Oversaw the acquisition of hundreds of works by acclaimed historic and contemporary artists such as Charles M. Rusself, Howard Terpning, Fritz Scholder, Martin Grelle, John Coleman and Glenna Goodacre, positioning the Booth as a leader in the collecting and presentation of Western art.
Exhibition Excellence: Hopkins has curated or co-curated over 100 exhibitions, including
American Spirit Remembered: The Art of Mort Künstler, The West Observed: The Art of Howard Terpning, Parallel Paths: The Art of Allan Houser and Harry Jackson, and Warhol and the West, based on his Master’s thesis, which traveled to several other venues. He also helped develop the Museum’s triennial signature exhibition series, Western American ArtSouth of the Sweet Tea Line.
- Educational Initiatives: Launched award-winning programs for students and adults, including docent-led gallery tours, virtual field trips, artist talks, hands-on workshops at the Booth Art Academy, and annual events like West Fest.
- Community Engagement: Fostered partnerships with local schools, civic groups, other museums, foundations, and private collections, ensuring the museum became a cornerstone of cultural life for Cartersville and the greater Atlanta area. Recognition: Among the many honors the Booth has earned on his watch are designation as a Smithsonian Affiliate and inclusion in the prestigious Museums West Consortium. Most impressively, the Booth was named “Best Art Museum” in America by the USA Today 10Best Readers Poll in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
- Fundraising: Facilitated cash gifts to the Booth Museum of over $10 million, and artwork valued at least double that amount. Established the Booth endowment fund, the
“Become a Legend” legacy society, and the HAAS Fund, named after he and his wife Joyce’s four children, which has brought 50,000 school children to the Booth, who might not have been able to visit otherwise.
Transition
The Georgia Museums, Inc. Board of Directors, who oversee the operation of the Booth, Tellus Science Museum, Savoy Automobile Museum, and the Bartow History Museum, has initiated a nationwide search for the next Executive Director, seeking a leader who can build on the foundation established during Hopkins’ tenure. Hopkins’ last official event at the Booth will be fittingly the opening of an exhibition he co-curated with fellow staff member, Director of Curatorial Services Lisa Wheeler. A public farewell celebration will be just part of the festivities scheduled for November 8, 2025. The museum invites the community, members, and partners to participate in events honoring Hopkins’ extraordinary career.
“It’s impossible to overstate what Seth has meant to the Booth Museum and to our community,” said Board President Lorri McClain. “His vision and tireless work ethic have solidified the Booth as a worldclass institution, attracting long-time Western art fans and helping grow new ones. His influence will be felt for many years to come.” Hopkins also led the teams that developed the exhibitions and visitor experience at Tellus Science Museum and the Bartow History Museum.
Hopkins, reflecting on his time at the Booth, said, “What we have built together is a testament to the power of art and the stories of the American West to unite and inspire. I am profoundly grateful for the support of our staff, board, volunteers, artists, and visitors who have made every day at the Booth so meaningful. When we won the title ‘Best Art Museum,’ I said I am under no delusions that we are the best art museum, but I do know we have the most enthusiastic and loyal fans anywhere. We still do. And I am sad to be leaving them but also excited by a new challenge.”
Continuing the Legacy
As the Booth Western Art Museum enters a new era, it does so with gratitude for Hopkins’s leadership and optimism for the future. The institution remains committed to its mission of preserving and promoting the art, history, and heritage of the American West. It looks forward to welcoming new ideas and energy in the years ahead.
Hopkins’ legacy will live on not only in the galleries and programs of the Booth but in the countless lives he touched through his work. The Museum encourages friends, colleagues, and patrons to share their memories and well-wishes via its social media channels, celebrating the enduring spirit of leadership and collaboration that has defined Hopkins’ tenure.
About Booth Western Art Museum
Booth Western Art Museum, an Affiliate to the Smithsonian Institution, is a 120,000 square foot museum located in Cartersville, Georgia, where guests are invited to See America’s Story
through contemporary Western artwork, a Presidential Gallery. Open since August 2003, Booth Museum is the only museum of its kind in the Southeast and was named the 2020, 2021 and 2022 USA TodaVs 10BEST Readers’ Choice award Best Art Museum in the United States. To learn more about Booth Western Art Museum, visit www.boothmuseum.org.
Museum Directions
Booth Western Art Museum is located at 501 N. Museum Drive, Cartersville, GA 30120. Take l75 to exit 288 — Main Street, Cartersville. Head West. Follow Main Street (Highway #113 / #61) into the business district — approximately 2.2 miles. Turn right on Gilmer Street, travel two blocks under the bridge and the Museum is on the left. Free parking is available in the Tabernacle Baptist Church parking lot on Gilmer Street, across from the Museum entrance.
Museum Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10:00 am — 5:00 pm. Thursday: 10:00 am — 5:00pm.
Sunday: 1:00 pm — 5:00 pm. Closed Mondays, New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day
Admission
Adult: $16.00; Senior (65+): $14.00; Student (with ID): $13.00; Children 12 and under: Free (accompanied by parent or guardian); Active Military Personnel (with ID): Free (h price regular admission for all immediate family members of the active duty person); Booth Museum Members: Free; Second Thursday of each month: free admission for all between 4:00 pm — 8:00 pm.
Press Release