Originally published in Carroll Capital, the print publication of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. .听
The Museum of Worcester has lived many lives over the years. It was the Worcester Society of Antiquity when it was incorporated in 1877. Then, in 1919, it became the Worcester Historical Society. When Eric Butler, MBA 鈥�12, was growing up, he knew it as the Worcester Historical Museum. And in 2025, the space reinvented itself again as the Museum of Worcester, just in time for Butler to take the reins as executive director this past winter.
It鈥檚 not just a name change, but an affirmation of the museum鈥檚 mission to celebrate the Worcester community. 鈥淲e do think about the museum as Worcester鈥檚 museum, the museum of the people,鈥� Butler says. A lifelong resident of the city, he鈥檚 proud to be part of that group.
Much like the museum, Butler has also lived many lives. After studying theater and psychology at Holy Cross, he went on to get his MBA from the Carroll School. He has held development roles in the education and education technology sectors鈥攎ost recently as vice president of development for City Year鈥攁nd also founded Broadway in Worcester in 2022, inviting award-winning performers to central Massachusetts each year.听
Now, Butler鈥檚 bringing that versatility to his latest role. He had big shoes to fill when he became executive director in January. His predecessor, Bill Wallace, ran the Museum of Worcester for nearly 50 years. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely daunting,鈥� Butler said shortly after stepping into the role, but he has hit the ground running.
Although the museum is on solid financial footing, he knows that his business skills will be key to the success of future projects like incorporating more interactive technology into exhibits and expanding the gallery dedicated to the work of late Worcester artist Harvey Ball, creator of the iconic yellow smiley face. When renovations are complete, the gallery 鈥渨ill be the happiest place in Worcester,鈥� Butler says, flashing a big smile himself.
“ I have embraced that entrepreneurial spirit. It鈥檚 needed just as much in the arts and culture sector as in Silicon Valley. ”
Worcester has long been a hub for industry. In the museum鈥檚 Fuller Gallery of Industrial History, everything from corsets to cans of Polar Seltzer to NASA space suits鈥攁ll items that have been produced in the city鈥攑ack the display cases, but Butler believes it鈥檚 Worcester鈥檚 culture that makes the city special. 鈥淚t really is the vibrancy of life,鈥� he says; things like the museum, the Worcester Red Sox minor league team, and his work with Broadway in Worcester add to that vibrancy. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what people stay in communities for,鈥� Butler adds. He hopes that people continue to see the museum as part of that essential cultural patchwork.
He knows all about feeling connected to a mission. After his time at Holy Cross, joining another strong Jesuit institution like Boston College resonated with Butler. Although he recalls once being told that he might be 鈥渢oo nice for business school,鈥� he鈥檚 grateful to have found such a supportive environment in the Carroll School, especially as someone with no previous business education.
鈥淚f you had asked me what Brown Brothers Harriman was when I first started business school, I鈥檇 be like, 鈥楧o they sell men鈥檚 clothes?鈥欌�� he jokes, referencing the esteemed investment banking firm and alluding to Brooks Brothers. But he adds that the B-school experience helped evolve how he thought about the world and problem-solving.
There鈥檚 one particular lesson from his time at the Carroll School that Butler returns to often, especially as he considers the Museum of Worcester鈥檚 future. While participating in TechTrek West and visiting alumni working in Silicon Valley, he realized that these individuals all had something important in common: They wore failure like a badge of honor.听
鈥淚 have embraced that entrepreneurial spirit. It鈥檚 needed just as much in the arts and culture sector as in Silicon Valley,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n terms of experimentation and innovation as a smaller museum, I think we have the luxury to be nimble and try things out.鈥�
