The city of Pittsburgh, considered by many to be an up and coming cultural center, is losing the curator of one of its major museums.

However, don't shed a tear -- there is good news.

Kahren Jones Arbitman, former curator of the Frick Art Museum and Penn State alumnus, has been named the new director of the Palmer Museum of Art. Charles Garoian, who served as the museum's acting director since last spring, has been named to the newly created position of assistant director.

James C. Moeser, dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and executive director of University Arts Services, said he was especially excited about Arbitman's appointment.

"Kahren Arbitman will bring to the Palmer Museum an outstanding record of museum professionalism and distinguished scholarship," he said.

Her record includes being curator of Frick from 1985 to 1989, during which she organized art shows, installed traveling exhibits, and publicized and promoted the exhibitions and museum. Arbitman also planned exhibitions for the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Institute's Museum of Art, Moeser said.

As an art historian, Arbitman has been a faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham College, the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University.

Arbitman said programming for the University's multi-dimensional audience is one of the many challenges she faces.

"The Palmer is the only substantial art museum in the area," she said. "It serves art historians, knowledgeable collectors, infrequent visitors from the region and the entire university. We need to continue to develop interesting programming to reach all of these groups, as well as to attract new visitors."

With the teaming of Arbitman and Garoian, Moeser said he believes the museum's development will strengthen.

"I want the museum to become much more active in the development of its permanent collection after very little activity in this area for the past few years.

"These will be exciting times for the Palmer Museum," Moeser said. "I believe that we have just the right team in place to guide the museum to an entirely new level of excellence."

"The promotion of Charles Garoian allows us to retain one of our brightest and most creative forces," Moeser said.

Both Garoian and Arbitman assumed their respective positions Monday.