We hope you give us a chance and whitelist our website. Krider said she felt the response to Lewis was not right and approached Myers a second time. Abigail L. Martin, Keller Williams Realty. Lori Barber, College of Eastern Idaho. The Museum is located on the center square of downtown Asheville, 2 South Pack Square at Pack Place. I showed her where Pam was, Weitzman said. Read more about the new building. As a relatively new resident of Asheville, I admired the quality of two exhibits I saw at the Museum recently and was seriously thinking about becoming a member. She said the foundation of the museum was not its collections but rather the people who make the everyday possible. This story is good work! 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. It is up to staff and board to assess and address Museum health and not be complacent. Opinion: Mark Meadows Skates on Voter Fraud Charge. This is not a game to me, Weitzman said, adding that she had raised concerns about employee mistreatment with Saenger; with the previous chair, Herbert Butch Patrick Jr.; and with board vice chair Kevin Click, the chair of the human resources committee. If not, there is the sound of inevitability in this story of potentially escalating to a whole new level, with a lot more attention than the museum or board would appreciate. Get a code sent to your email to sign in, or sign in using a password. As Peter Drucker once famously said, Culture eats strategy for breakfast and it seems that the culture of this institution is in need of repair. They dont want to hear. Thorough and revealing (and entertaining!). Grand Opening Celebration, Saturday, Nov. 9, 6-10 p.m., $225 . Founded Next Up Collectors in an effort to connect the next generation of art collectors to emerging artists, as well as to offer accessible resources and tools related to the art industry. Our Museum needs us to speak for its health and future, now. In all of my life, Ive never been in a situation where there was such hostility, and I actually felt physically threatened, Benites said. North Carolina museum exhibiting 20th century American art. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. Not the museum itself, just the board. This is what was decided seven years ago, and it is the same today.. Lewis said that Myers told her, Now is not the time, but did not say when she would be available to speak. "negro dog" "red light" house 4-H Club 10th Cavalry Regiment 50th anniversary 60th anniversary 100th anniversary 135th Regiment 500 block 1619 A.M.E. church A.M.E. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church abandoned building abandoned cemetery abandoned child aboriginal people abortion Abraham Lincoln abuse access road accidental death accidental injury accident . Employee complaints have been a source of discord on the museum board. Rebel/Re-Belle: Exploring Gender, Agency, and Identity | Selections from the Asheville Art Museum and Rubell Museum combines works from two significant collections of contemporary art to explore how artists have innovated, influenced, interrogated, and inspired visual culture in the past 100 years. On view November 18 through March 20! The Asheville Art Museum is the sole museum to garner three Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Exhibition Awards in the 2022 competition! Ousted Trustee Describes Culture of Fear at Asheville Art Museum, Hyperallergic, 11/18/22, https://hyperallergic.com/781084/ousted-trustee-describes-culture-of-fear-at-asheville-art-museum/, Trustee Who Criticized Director Is Ousted from Art Museum Board, Asheville Watchdog, 11/17/22, https://avlwatchdog.org/trustee-ousted-from-museum-board/, Not A Pretty Picture at the Asheville Art Museum, Asheville Watchdog, 11/9/22, https://avlwatchdog.org/not-a-pretty-picture-at-the-asheville-art-museum/. If there are additional episodes of improper staff involvement, I will bring this to the trustees to consider your continuing on the board., On Nov. 14, the day before Tuesdays board meeting, Saenger wrote to Weitzman, In accordance with the bylaws, I am giving you notice that given the inappropriate behavior when you and your companions verbally attacked and intimidated Pam and others at the members event I will request a discussion as to your continuing to serve on the AAM board. The Museums staff and board of trustees want to hear from you. Who can clean up the Asheville Art Museum? When we visited, there was a temporary exhibit of recently donated Southern Folk Art (think: the ubiquitous and prolific Howard Finster and unschooled artists such as Finster), and a collection of modernist design from the mid-20th. The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. But the culture of fear in employees, the morale and the attrition is horrendous., In ticking off Weitzmans pattern of disruptive behavior at Tuesdays board meeting, Saenger, the chair, said, I dont see in any way how this benefits anyone or anything about the museum.. Asheville, NC 28801 Mailing Address PO Box 1717 Asheville, NC 28802-1717 Phone 828.253.3227 Art Inquiries For exhibition proposals, information about artworks, or artwork donations, click here for more information. The fact that many have shared this sentiment and the board continues to take no meaningful action is ludicrous. Through his work, Roland engages visitors in dialogues around community, social contract, identity, biases, and other deeply human experiences. Staff & Board | Asheville Area Arts Council Staff Katie Cornell Executive Director 828.222.0436 [email protected] Bringing people together through the arts is Katie's passion, and that is just what she tries to do as the Executive Director of the Asheville Area Arts Council. The Museum acknowledges that it is situated upon the ancient, southern Appalachian ancestral homeland of the Cherokee Tribe and that this region is still the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians today. Saenger responded in an Aug. 9 email that while it is important that trustees are informed as to staffing needs, etc., personal details are restricted by state and federal policy.. Late night Thursdays until 9 pm. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Email [emailprotected]. The boards angry internal interactions give credibility to accusations of a toxic work environment. To create a vibrant environment for the arts and artists. Healthy and productive debates are beneficial to any organization., Saenger also wrote that the board has complete confidence in Pam., This team, led by Pam, has built an outstanding institution, Saenger wrote. This. For the record, I am canceling my membership. Read more about our Capital Campaign effort. We need ethical and compassionate leadership from the Executive Director and Board. After the meeting, Weitzman told Asheville Watchdog she believed her removal was retribution for challenging the museums leadership. I cautioned you on direct contact with staff, Saenger wrote. Pam should not have been in charge of day to day operations in 2015, and it is shocking that she still is. She urged her fellow trustees to ask for Myerss resignation and to find a new executive director. At the board meeting Tuesday, Benites said he was terribly, terribly upset by the incident. Once again, the wealthy establishment of Asheville shows that they will brook no questioning of their divine right to rule. Open daily 11am6pm. Trustees who have attempted to redress the toxic culture fostered by Myers have been shut down or shut out of attempts to do so. In charge of it all is a board of trustees with full authority over the museum's affairs, and one that operates out of public view, often yielding to the will of its long-time executive director, Pamela Myers. The selection of objects displayed illustrates how Breslers eye for collecting craft not only draws attention to nature and artists interest in it, but also accentuates her role as a natural collector with an intuitive ability to identify themes and ideas that speak to one another. 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. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion. Great coverage, thanks for exposing the toxic environment. The argument is that she has consistently failed at other very vital parts of her job and the Board has been relatively inefficient at addressing them seriously and effectively. enge Executive Committee actions . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Just so completely out-of-control simply outrageous. Weitzman responded that she attempted a group effort and failed. The high handed kicking her off of the board and a docent and as the representative of the docents sets in motion disastrous community relations problems. Instead, board member Benites made a motion that Michelle be removed from the board.. Krider said that she was disturbed by what she had read in the Watchdog story. He said Weitzman had disrupted board meetings and had inappropriate communications with staff. David Huff, one of five museum board members who resigned in the spring, said the trustees were doubling down by removing Weitzman. I believe suing the Asheville Art Museum Board of Trustees for willful and ongoing negligence in regard to their statutory obligations is probably the most expedient avenue forward here. The work environment is beyond toxic, Huff and Green wrote in a 2021 summary. Nonprofit journalism in the public interest. They orchestrated it all., Weitzman had volunteered at the museum since 2016 and held a seat on the board as president of the Docents Association. always works better. The Appleby Exhibition Hall was not open so if that part was open there may be more art in there. When I handed over the contract to the incoming docent president, I was suspended from being a docent for six months, which extended into 8 1/2 months and then expulsion from the docent corp. I think they felt threatened anyway, physically, and they were verbally attacked., Saenger allowed Weitzman an opportunity to respond at the board meeting before she was banished. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). Our mission is to encourage young professionals across industries to learn, support, and ultimately invest in diverse and . Not something the CT would undertake. Required fields are marked *. This Educational Organization is headquartered in Asheville, NC. We have never censored or disciplined a trustee for expressing differing views or opinions. As Asheville Watchdog reported, the board has twice brought in an executive coach in 2015 after the six complaints to trustees, and again in 2021 after eight other ex-staffers voiced their concerns to Huff and board member Darren Green. To connect with us, please visit our Contact page. Researches Biltmore's fine and decorative art collections and history to support internal and external communications as well as exhibitions, publications, and training and educational materials . One must assume that Ms. Myers makes all major curatorial decisions, also. Has Pam done anything unethical or illegal? I would like to also point out that the Museum has not had an official Curator since shortly after reopening in 2019. The top-down arrogance (Youre in my house) is appalling and is too typical of what happens when a former backwater city gains some fame, albeit largely through tourism. Monica Krider, a real estate agent, attended as a guest of Gretchen Lewis, who is also a real estate agent and a museum member. But how does that make the museum Youre in MY house? for dates. 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 chalk it up to there being better opportunities for staff elsewhere. Kate Meehan, Idaho National Laboratory. This petition starter stood up and took action. The Asheville Art Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums that receives support for its programs from Museum Members; other generous individuals, corporations, businesses, and foundations; the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources (www.NCArts.org); the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal support for the nations libraries and museums; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency that believes that a great nation deserves great art. Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. After the meeting, she sent an email to the docents, writing that she had been removed as a result of standing up for museum staff for the last year, within the Board of Trustees and most recently on record with the AVLWatchdog.org article., Nancy Ferguson, a 30-year museum volunteer and former trustee, told Asheville Watchdog, I was appalled to learn of Ms. Weitzmans dismissal. [Show slideshow] Gallery / Gift Shop Museums Craft Trails. The patron was in her face, not me., Were clear, Saenger replied. I must say I second Nancy Fergusons comment. And Im sorry to say, Michelle, youre no longer on the board. Im hopeful you will stand up and see that while your efforts are to you for the good of the museum, they are proving counterproductive. Asked for comment, Benites wrote that after significant discussion the board had decided to have all communications be with the chair.. Commentary This article was originally published in American Thinker Consumers can take a lot, but when you start raisin This should be more a group effort.. We are sad to announce the passing of Jennifer Elizabeth Gordon of Sylva, North Carolina. Asheville Watchdog spoke separately with Weitzman, Lewis, and Krider the day after the event. The new Asheville Art Museum facility enhances the Museum's presentations of American art of the 20 th and 21 st . Kerry Martin, Community Volunteer. Employee complaints have been a source of discord on the museum board. Sunday Funday the Old-Fashioned Way! Approved by Board of Directors: January 2014. Late-night Thursdays until 9pm; closed Tuesdays. 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