Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Nicholas R. Bell joins ROM from Glenbow in Calgary, Alberta, where he served as President & Chief Executive Officer since 2019.

At Glenbow, Bell led the development of the museum’s current strategic plan, which prioritized financial sustainability, increased inclusion and accessibility, and furthered Indigenous community engagement and reconciliation. Under his leadership, the museum established the JR Shaw Free Admission Endowment, which will make Glenbow the first major museum in Canada to provide free general admission for all. He was also responsible for the execution and oversight of the museum’s current $205-million Glenbow Reimagined revitalization project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

Before joining Glenbow, Bell served as Senior Vice-President for Curatorial Affairs at Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, the leading American maritime museum. Prior, Bell was the Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., where he developed programming strategies that saw attendance increase from 150,000 annual visitors to 1 million. He is the author or editor of 11 books on art, culture, and museums.