Curating a Legacy: David & Mary Benfer and The Ringling

By Reno Gomez | Photo by Nancy Guth | December 2024

For circus fans across the globe, the name Ringling conjures thoughts of red and white tents, high flying acts, and endless entertainment for the whole family. When John Ringling moved the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus headquarters to the area in 1927, the circus became entwined with the culture of Sarasota. The legacy of John and Mable Ringling is alive at The Ringling—the State Art Museum of Florida—showcased on 66 acres of beautiful grounds, art, architecture, and, of course, circus history.

With volunteer work at the heart of their family values, David and Mary Benfer lent their efforts to the talented staff at The Ringling over a decade ago and have never looked back.

The Benfers first came to the Sarasota area in 1999, visiting for both business and pleasure until they became permanent residents in 2010. They immersed themselves in Sarasota’s culture of the arts, making their volunteer time with The Ringling a priority. The Ringling Museum of Art Foundation Board of Directors recognized the couple’s dedication throughout the years and recently elected David to the board, where he serves as Treasurer. Recognizing they were the beneficiaries of the hard work and generosity of those who came before, they decided to dedicate more than just their time to support the future of the organization.

The David W. and Mary S. Benfer Curatorial Research Fellowships provide postgraduate students with an opportunity to receive hands-on learning and professional support in the curatorial departments of circus and European art for one-year, full-time appointments. The two fellowships evolved from David’s conversations with Dr. Sarah Cartwright, Chief Curator and Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections, and Jennifer Lemmer Posey, the Tibbals Curator of Circus. With the curators’ to-do lists that included planning for exhibitions and installations, collections research, writing for scholarly publications and grant proposals, and travel, the need for the fellowships became abundantly clear.

“We discussed the need for depth in both areas to expand program development and conduct additional research and documentation. At the same time, we wanted to prepare individuals for curatorial careers,” said David. The fellows will learn while also contributing to specific projects and research under the direction of Sarah and Jennifer. “It is truly a 50-50 proposition. The curators teach, and the fellows learn through guided discovery.”

Under the stewardship of Florida State University, the team at The Ringling developed the job description and budget and began recruitment for the right candidates for the fellowships. The goal of the fellowships is to serve as a bridge between academic training and professional leadership, equipping future arts leaders with the experience, skills, and networks necessary to thrive in the museum field. Fellows receive hands-on experience, mentorship, exposure to diverse perspectives, skill development, and the opportunity to engage in specialized research projects.

“Preserving this history and enhancing the quality requires the talent and energy of a gifted staff,” said Mary, reflecting on the importance of preserving the rich legacy of John and Mable Ringling. “The establishment of the Benfer Fellowships in these specific areas will support the future preservation and further development for generations to come. It is an honor to be part of it and support The Ringling.”

This year’s recipient of the David W. and Mary S. Benfer Curatorial Research Fellowship is Lindsey Hewitt. Serving as a full-time member of The Ringling’s curatorial staff, she will assist Dr. Cartwright with the research, documentation, interpretation, and display of works in The Ringling’s pre-1900 collection of European and American painting, sculpture, and works on paper.

Alexander Buchheit is this year’s David W. and Mary S. Benfer Circus Curatorial Research Fellow. As a full-time member within the Circus Department at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Alexander reports to Jennifer Lemmer Posey, and works closely with the curator to expand, document, and share knowledge about objects in the museum’s permanent circus collections.

Both fellows have master’s degrees in related fields, and previous experience in museums. They possess qualities that the Benfers feel allows for the most success in the curatorial field, such as their attention to fine details, advanced research skills, prioritization, and understanding of terminology.

“Both have arrived with energy, enthusiasm, focus and synergy with their two curator mentors. I would say that Mary and I are pleased with the selected fellows, and with the exciting progress and contribution they are making for The Ringling,” said David.

Previous fellows have gone on to pursue careers as curators, collections managers, archivists, librarians, and conservators. Some have stayed in museum tracks, though others have continued their graduate study or moved into other types of research-based work.

Since 2011, The Ringling has added over 12,500 artworks to its collection, boasting 21 galleries within its Museum of Art, as well as two circus museums, a collection of modern glass, and photography. The Ringling Art Library hosts over 70,000 volumes of books covering the History of Western and Asian Art. As the museum continued to expand, the grounds of The Ringling became an important part of the program and was accredited as a Level 2 Arboretum in 2019 with 200 species of plants and over 2,000 individual trees.

Though the fellowships focus on the circus and the collection of pre-1900 art, The Ringling offers so much more to spark wonder and curiosity in every visit.

“When you walk into the museum, you are in a shrine of human expression,” said Mary. “You come away knowing that you have connected with humanity.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION about The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, visit ringling.org or call (941) 359-5700.