The Bolinas Museum, a space dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting the art and history of coastal Marin, has named Jessica Shaefer as its executive director.

The Bolinas resident, who has expansive experience in leading arts programs and fostering creative partnerships, most recently piloted a global initiative for Gray Area at Google, working with a team of curators to commission large-scale, site-specific art installations.

“Jess’s commitment to accessibility, collaboration and community engagement aligns beautifully with the mission of Bolinas Museum,” said Leah Vermulen Lopez, interim director of operations. “We’re excited to welcome her vision and leadership as we grow as a vital hub for art and history in our region.”

Shaefer succeeds Louisa Gloger, who left the position to serve as executive director for Sausalito’s Headlands Center for the Arts last November.

Previously, Shaefer led public programming and partnerships at Meta Open Arts, served as project director of Sites Unseen, collaborating with community partners to produce public art installations and activations in downtown San Francisco, and worked at Creative Time in New York City, an arts organization that has commissioned and presented more than 350 public art projects around the world.

She’s also a board member of San Francisco’s The Lab, which aims to platform traditionally underrepresented artists, and Artadia, a nonprofit grant-making organization and nationwide community of visual artists, curators and patrons.

“I am excited to continue to expand the museum’s role as a community-centered space and steward of the rich cultural heritage of the area while supporting deepened engagement with new voices and diverse artistic practices,” Shaefer said.

According to a press release, “plans are already underway to expand community-centered programming and further enhance the museum’s role as a dynamic cultural space.” There will be opportunities in the future to meet Shaefer, hear her vision for the museum and offer feedback.

What’s coming up

Three new exhibits will open later this week at the museum: Stinson Beach artist Charles Hobson’s “Artist’s Books, Variations on a Theme,” an exhibit of his art books alongside preliminary sketches, designs and related monotypes, drawings and prints; Bolinas artist Arline Mathieu’s “When The Moon Sings,” an exploration of questions of life on other planets across space and time; and Mary Daniel Hobson’s “Offerings,” a layered blend of photography and mixed media.

They will run from Feb. 8 through March 30 at the museum at 48 Wharf Road in Bolinas. An opening reception will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday; talks will run from 3 to 4 p.m.

The museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. weekends as well as by appointment.

Admission is free. More information at bolinasmuseum.org.