Belinda Tate is leaving Newfields after serving three years as executive director for the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
During her tenure, she focused on acquiring new work and curating exhibits that featured more women and artists of color. That includes previous contemporary art exhibits like “Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks,” and “The Message is the Medium.”
Recently, she was instrumental in bringing “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Kasseem ‘Swizz Beatz’ Dean and Alicia Keys” to the museum.
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Tate was hired by former Newfields CEO and President Colette Pierce Burnette. Tate began her role as The Melvin & Bren Simon Director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art on Nov. 6, 2023, four days before Burnette abruptly announced her resignation.
In a statement provided to Mirror Indy, Newfields spokesperson Mattie Wethington wrote, “We are grateful for Belinda’s dedication to Newfields and the depth and breadth of her museum experience and knowledge she brought to our organization.”
Le Monte G. Booker Sr., president and CEO of Newfields, declined to comment on the state of Tate’s contract. Her last day is Oct. 9.
Tate earned an art history degree from Yale University. She previously served as executive director at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts from 2014 to 2023.
The Winston-Salem, North Carolina native comes from a family where quilting, sewing, knitting and crochet skills were passed down for generations.
“My grandmother … essentially taught all of her daughters how to sew (and) some of her granddaughters,” Tate told Indy Star in a 2024 interview.
Tate also worked as director of Diggs Gallery at Winston-Salem State University for 15 years.
Mirror Indy reached out to Tate to understand her exit from Newfields. Instead, she provided a statement through Wethington thanking colleagues and the museum:
“I am proud of the role I have played in advancing the Indianapolis Museum of Art and helping position it for its next chapter. I am deeply grateful to the many colleagues, trustees, artists, donors, and community partners who made this work possible.
I leave with great appreciation for the experience and friendships I have gained here, and I look forward to seeing all the great things that Newfields will accomplish in the years ahead.”
Newfields’ search for her replacement will begin in the coming months, according to Wethington.
A correction was made on Oct. 8, 2026: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Newfields spokesperson Mattie Wethington’s last name.
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Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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