S1 , E6 - Art Belongs to Everyone: Sarah Jesse’s MAG Vision

Could Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery become free for everyone? In S1 E6 of I’ve Got a Little Brooklyn in Me, host Jaclyn Richard sits down with Sarah Jesse, the MAG Director, to explore that possibility and her bold vision for art in Rochester.With over 20 years leading at LACMA, Orange County Museum of Art, Academy Art Museum, and more, Sarah brings national expertise and local passion. They dive into game-changing Sands family grants and funding from a former Wegmans spokesperson that could eliminate admission barriers entirely opening MAG’s world-class collection to families, students, and neighbors.Jaclyn, a new MAG Council member, shares veteran members’ excitement: “With Sarah at the helm, we’re set for wonderful years of education and top-tier management.”From her surprising twin sister reveal to breaking down DEAI in action, neighborhood outreach plans, and the “Brooklyn grit” sustaining her mission, Sarah reveals why museums must be community powerhouses, not ivory towers.Whether you’re an art lover, Rochester advocate, or just curious about culture’s power to connect, this episode delivers inspiration, insider access, and a call to see art differently.You’ll laugh, you’ll kvell, you’ll leave with a smile—that’s the goal every time.