As has been echoed again and again, there is a fierce and ugly disconnect between Pam and her supporters and the community. Instead, board member Benites made a motion that Michelle be removed from the board.. It does appear there is a campaign in the community to keep this story alive, so how does remaining silent help? Weitzman pressed on after Saenger became the chair, asking for more information on employee complaints, staff exit interviews, and the executive coach that had been brought in for Myers and senior leaders, emails show. There are laws and responsibilities that any board has, especially a board of a not-for-profit entity. Real answer: "When the Asheville Art Museum reopened in November 2019, we were able to offer the 'First Wednesday' program through funding received from a private foundation," museum . She and other current board members, as well as past board . A renovated and expanded museum opened in 2019 in a glass building that is now a landmark downtown, and the museum has an endowment of more than $6 million. The board may be putting itself at risk by not taking more concrete action given that what has been done so far appears to be ineffective, nice words but little effect. Saenger told Asheville Watchdog that as far as he knew, the museum, established in 1948, had never removed a trustee. Some Asheville artists have complained that the museum is inaccessible and unsupportive of local work. Evolution Sofia, Sofia City, Bulgaria2 weeks agoBe among the first 25 applicantsSee who Evolution has hired for this roleNo longer accepting applications. Who would suggest changing her role to focus on what she appears to be good at, and not what she is evidently not good at? Never miss an update by signing up for our free Watchdog News Alerts, delivered directly to your inbox. I think this is horrible., Zahler added that he was supposed to be making the motion to remove Weitzman, but obviously I got on a little too late I would like to second that motion.. Two recent articles in the Asheville Watchdog have exposed how Pam Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum, has routinely mistreated Museum staff during her tenure, creating a culture of fear, retaliation, and high attrition that has twice been brought to the Museum's Board of Trustees. But I feel like that has been compromised on numerous occasions by Michelle Weitzman.. Pre-purchased online tickets and walk-in tickets are available. This should be more a group effort.. This is what was decided seven years ago, and it is the same today.. The word used by three former staff is traumatic. , Kevin Click, the board vice-chair and a former human resources executive, said in a written response to questions from Asheville Watchdog that Myers has been very positive about the coaching and feedback she is receiving.. But behind the facade, it gets ugly, an Asheville Watchdog investigation found. I showed her where Pam was, Weitzman said. Too Much Is Just Right: The Legacy of Pattern and Decoration, Sherrill Roland: Sugar, Water, Lemon Squeeze. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. I never heard anyone speak with such divine right, Krider said. Sections will explore the history of pattern and decorations use in American art during and after the now formally recognized movement was established. Youre focusing on me and refusing to focus on the problem, Pams leadership inability, Weitzman said. I never heard anyone speak with such divine right, Krider said. The museum belongs to the citizens of Asheville, Bleakney told Asheville Watchdog. The museum, Hamill pointed out, is a nonprofit institution accountable to the Board of Trustees. Leave, I did. At the Asheville Art Museum, the gift shop and the Front Desk were one and the same, meaning that those employees were front-facing and interacted with guests and served as the first impression to the Museum. Unpopular Opinion but Reality: Never had any direct interaction with her but this article helps make more sense of why it seemed like such an unhappy place. Established by artists and incorporated in 1948, the Asheville Art Museum is committed to being a vital force in community and individual development and to providing lifelong opportunities for education and enrichment through the visual arts. Yeah, were not talking about typos or lending a hand. Why are so many who live here in the present so spineless? While I am sure the attorneys may approve of such an approach, it leaves a great deal open to conjecture. But it was Krider, not Weitzman, who confronted Myers in front of board member Robert Benites. Aug 2016 - Present6 years 7 months. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. A renovated and expanded museum opened in 2019 in a glass building that is now a landmark downtown, and the museum has an endowment of more than $6 million. I have a feeling yall are going to regret your fumble here. The employees were saying, Oh, she criticized me about something, Hamill said. None responded by our deadline Tuesday. But how does that make the museum Youre in MY house? In fact, by the third story there were not even responses from the organization/board to the reporters inquiries. The board twice brought in an executive coach, but staff complaints about Myers's management style persisted. North Carolina museum exhibiting 20th century American art. Given these extreme circumstances and the weight of whats happening inside that museum, it is clear they are continuing to choose one person over the health of the institution, Reilly said. You may get billed for that. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. The Asheville Art Museum, glistening through its glass exterior in the downtown heart of Pack Square, earns acclaim for its prized collection of American and Appalachian artwork. Pam has a platform and could issue a statement at any time. The most recent dates shown on the N.C. Sec of State site is 2020. Lewis said Benites intervened, defending Myers. It is a cornerstone in this art-rich town that we can all be very proud of.. Current and former employees, volunteers and board members of the Asheville Art Museum describe a workplace that is "beyond toxic," an Asheville Watchdog investigation found. Just so completely out-of-control simply outrageous. Shull and his wife, Hedy Fischer, who own Pink Dog Creative in the River Arts District, have donated art that is part of the museums permanent collection. Last week, the letters in the museums sign were altered from Asheville Art Museum to A He ll Art Museum. Asheville Police spokesperson Samantha Booth said Wednesday she could not locate a police report on the vandalism. The museum held a member appreciation party Nov. 10, the day after the Watchdog story appeared. An Asheville Museum of Art board member and volunteer docent who spoke publicly about allegations of worker mistreatment at the museum has been ousted from her post, the Asheville. He then deferred to trustee Gary Zahler, who joined the virtual meeting late. . * Asheville Art Museum, Board of Trustees, 2012 - Present * High Museum of Art, Director's Circle, 2003 - 2006 * Marketing Director of various law firms in AZ, NY and ATL, 1997 -. At the board meeting Tuesday, Benites said he was terribly, terribly upset by the incident. Well certainly take everything you had to say to heart, Michelle, as we always have, Saenger said. Krider, according to Weitzman, continued with her rant about a terrible way to run an organization.. See here for our terms of service. Myers, the museum's executive director for 27 years, declined to be interviewed by Asheville Watchdog. Clear enough? In all of my life, Ive never been in a situation where there was such hostility, and I actually felt physically threatened, Benites said. Asheville Watchdog spoke separately with Weitzman, Lewis, and Krider the day after the event. Your email address will not be published. Last week, the letters in the museums sign were altered from Asheville Art Museum to A Hell Art Museum. Asheville Police spokeswoman Samantha Booth said Wednesday she could not locate a police report on the vandalism. 6,000+ Collaborations with Artists + Organizations. We understand, the web can be a dangerous place! It was just very upsetting to me., Saenger said in the meeting, If youve read Lindsays report or spoken to others, I think its clear this was grossly inappropriate behavior by a trustee And this was in the midst of an event for members in the atrium of the museum., Asheville Watchdog requested the report Saenger referenced and any videotape of the incident. In 2005, the museum inaugurated its capital campaign artworks for Asheville to develop the new museum. Based on these articles, the museum board is composed and operating based on a friends and family and buddy system style approach that ensures most if not all members will agree to self protect each other and fend off critiques. 120 College St, Asheville . I dont do this lightly, said Paul Saenger, chair of the museums Board of Trustees, according to a recording of the board meeting obtained by Asheville Watchdog. Right so lets get the courts involved here since the Board there at the glass palace/ fortress has shown itself incapable of anything but a bunker mentality in regard to this -gone on way too long- travesty. The governing body for both the museum and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, this group of highly dedicated individuals bring their wide-ranging expertise to ensure the institution as a whole remains responsible and vital to those it serves. It is common knowledge among museum experts that museum stores and restaurants have become much needed sources of additional revenue; leadership at Asheville Art Museum, however, treats the store and cafe as unimportant after thoughts, refusing to provide the resources and support they need in order to be profitable. Phone (828) 254-7162 Email info@ashevillescience.org Participating member of the North Carolina Grassroots Science Museums collaborative with education funding by the North Carolina General Assembly. I dont do this lightly, said Paul Saenger, chair of the museums Board of Trustees, according to a recording of the board meeting obtained by Asheville Watchdog. A majority of the museum's board has remained steadfast to Myers, the museum's director since 1995, despite complaints by former employees in 2015 and again in 2021. Read more about the history of the Museum, as well as the Museums new building. Will the Board continue to sit on their hands while this environment is allowed to fester? One person objected to something to do with the theatre-how many did not object? Monica Krider, a realtor, attended as a guest of Gretchen Lewis, who is also a realtor and a museum member. His reason had something to with the theater it could have been anything. As for the lovely donor Ms. Hamill Ill let her own -nauseously entitled, and completely out of touch with reality- words speak for themselves and they speak volumes. In response to Asheville Watchdogs story last month, the board stood by Myers, and at its next meeting removed an outspoken trustee, Michelle Weitzman, the only member to speak publicly about employee complaints, for what the board chair described as a pattern of disruptive behavior., The board made very clear theyre going to do absolutely nothing, Reilly said. How tone deaf to use the term Cancel Culture here, in Asheville! Revelate builds upon Hills investigation of pre-contact cultures. Home / Uncategorized / asheville art museum board of directors. (251) 208-7508, 111 South Royal St, Mobile, AL 36602 Mobile Museum of Art (251)208-5200, 4850 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL Troy Pioneer Museum of Alabama (334)566-3597, 248 Highway 231 N, Troy, AL Tuscaloosa Children's Hands-On Museum (205)349-4239, 2213 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL Paul W. Bryant Museum Open Thursdays 11am9pm | Reserve tickets now. Grace is a 2021 participant in the McKinsey Black Leadership Academy Management Accelerator and a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory. I think this is horrible., Zahler added that he was supposed to be making the motion to remove Weitzman, but obviously I got on a little too late I would like to second that motion.. Instead, board member Benites made a motion that Michelle be removed from the board.. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus. Boca Raton Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, marital status, national origin, citizenship, creed, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, veteran status, mental or . After the vote to remove Weitzman, Saenger said, I would just underscore that its just not appropriate to take things into your own hands. ); were talking about watching kind, hard-working, talented young and old professionals cry at their desks day after day. The outspoken employees were very courageous in attempting to shine light on an aggregious working conditions for a very underpaid staff. Employee complaints have been a source of discord on the museum board. The Asheville Art Museum is a community-based nonprofit visual art organization in Western North Carolina (WNC) and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. But Zahler also referenced all the good work.. In one email to Click, the chair of the human resources committee, and then board chair Butch Patrick, Weitzman wrote that fear of being fired has created a large morale deficit compounded by the inability to speak up., She asked for immediate action and wrote that there have been issues and concerns for a long period of time.. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. The letters reveal snippets of daily life at the college, Johnsons experience of his growth as an artist, and early examples of Mail art, a movement that Johnson helped found. Krider said she told Myers, Why do you think you can just stonewall people who are really struggling to understand your role and some of whats been going on here? , According to Weitzman, Benites got defensive and said, I dont think this is appropriate, and Pam said, Im hosting a party. , Weitzman said Krider was shaking her finger at Myers but stopped when Myers asked her to. News Alerts, delivered directly to your inbox.. 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