WORCESTER — The Museum of Worcester has named Eric A. Butler as its next executive director, bringing home a city native whose ties to local history date back to a sixth-grade project at West Tatnuck Elementary. Butler begins the role Jan. 5, 2026, the museum announced Wednesday.
Butler, now a seasoned nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience in advancement, arts administration, and philanthropic partnerships, said his earliest encounters with Worcester’s cultural institutions shaped everything that followed.
“Those early experiences taught me that history is most meaningful when it’s immediate, relevant, and tangible,” Butler said in the announcement. “The Museum of Worcester embodies that truth, and I am honored to be in a role that will help shape its next chapter. I believe Worcester’s cultural institutions are essential to the city’s economic vitality and quality of life, and I look forward to supporting the museum’s continued growth, relevance, and impact.”
Butler also praised outgoing Executive Director Bill Wallace, citing his “vision, leadership, and unparalleled knowledge of Worcester’s history” and the significant mark he leaves on the institution.
A Holy Cross graduate who later earned an MBA from Boston College, Butler’s résumé spans major educational and cultural organizations. He currently serves as vice president of development at City Year headquarters, managing a team that brings in more than $25 million annually, including roughly $12 million from national foundations.
Before that, he was the first director of development at edX, securing six- and seven-figure gifts, launching global digital programs, and contributing to the organization’s trajectory leading up to its $800 million acquisition by 2U in 2021.
He spent a decade in advancement at Saint John’s High School, ultimately as chief advancement officer, where his team doubled annual fund giving, raised more than $4 million a year, and helped deliver a $16 million performing arts center.
Outside of work, Butler has been a familiar presence in Worcester’s cultural landscape. He is the former Chair of the Worcester Cultural Coalition, current president of Worcester County Light Opera Company, and founder of Broadway in Worcester, which has provided more than $70,000 in free arts training since 2022. He has also collaborated on projects with the Museum of Worcester, the Worcester Black History Project and the “For the Record” exhibit and served on Worcester’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Cultural Subcommittee.
The museum’s board hailed the appointment as both a celebration of Wallace’s legacy and a signal of new momentum.
“On behalf of the board of directors of the Museum of Worcester, we are so excited to make this announcement,” Board Chair Diane Giampa said in the release. “The Worcester community will be forever grateful for the leadership and guidance of Bill Wallace, who leaves a lasting impact on the Museum. Bill has built a legacy of excellence, and we are all lucky to have been a small part of his journey. With Eric Butler, the Museum of Worcester begins an exciting new era, and we know he will leverage his love of history, deep connections in the community, and track record of philanthropic success to continue to lead the evolution of the Museum going forward.”
Butler’s appointment marks a homecoming and a handoff—from one of the city’s most recognizable historians to a leader who grew up inspired by Worcester’s past and now steps in to help shape its future.
