Asked for comment, Benites wrote that after significant discussion the board had decided to have all communications be with the chair.. We invite you to join us! I believe we are on a solid path forward, Click wrote. To schedule a group tour please contact us at info@blackmountaincollege.org. One must assume that Ms. Myers makes all major curatorial decisions, also. Its an art museum of American art, thats its sole focus. In a town as small as Asheville, everyone knows everyone and there is no scandal in that. A docent was permanently removed from the board and the docent corps for speaking up about the director. Weitzman, who until Tuesday had also been a volunteer docent leading tours of the museum, engaged in a pattern of disruptive behavior, Saenger said in the meeting. Not something the CT would undertake. Weitzman said a museum patron, Monica Krider, had wanted to share her thoughts with Pam about the Watchdog story. The Museum also offers a broad variety of innovative programs for all ages, including classes and workshops for adults, college students, children, and families; guided and group tours; concerts and performances; volunteer and docent programs; year-round and summer internship programs; film screenings; lectures and panel discussions; school and teacher programs; special events; and much more. I have never forgotten this episode. See here for our terms of service. The museum held a member appreciation party Nov. 10, the day after the Watchdogstory appeared. My heart goes out to Ms. Weitzman. What art museum does not have a lead curator? Deja vu all over again! and so it will be with Ms. Myers and her now rapidly unraveling tenure of abuse there at the Asheville Art Museum. 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. The museum held a member appreciation party Nov. 10, the day after the Watchdog story appeared. The Asheville Symphony Sessions; 2021 Virtual Concert Series; News & Press; ASO Radio; Education. Krider said she asked Myers about the Watchdog story, and Myers declined to discuss it, saying, according to Krider, Youre in my house.. The Asheville Art Museums vision is to transform lives through art, and we welcome all visitors without discrimination. The Asheville Art Museum presents exhibitions and public programs based on its permanent Approved by Board of Directors: January 2014. The Power Plant, a leading contemporary art space on Toronto's waterfront, has lost nearly its entire board of directors, with 24 out of 27 of its members resigning en masse earlier this week.The members who resigned have done so due to objections to the institution's management by an affiliated nonprofit organization, the Harbourfront Centre, and have called for the institution to be held . In all of my life, Ive never been in a situation where there was such hostility, and I actually felt physically threatened, Benites said. Sign in with a password below, or sign in using your email. He said an Asheville Watchdog investigative story last week, in which Weitzman was quoted supporting ex-employees who complained of a toxic workplace, had tainted the image of the museum., As a final straw, Saenger said, Pamela Myers, the museums executive director, and a couple of others were threatened at a museum party the night of Nov. 10. Weitzman was part of a group who had gathered on the second floor to talk when Krider, whom Weitzman said she had just met, said shed like to speak with Pam Myers, according to Weitzman. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. Im envious of such a sheltered life. She said that former employees had told her, unsolicited, that they were still experiencing nightmares, PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and continual therapy from their experience working at the museum. Krider, according to Weitzman, continued with her rant about a terrible way to run an organization.. Clearly there has been a consistent and ongoing pattern of abuse of volunteers and employees by Ms. Myers, which quite frankly reads like nothing short of a reign of terror .very very bad public relations no matter how magnificent your prized glass edifice there in Pack Square is. The old powers get nervous and forget decency, all in the name of saving the good work weve done when its actually their own egos theyre defending and their positions of prestige and public notice theyre clinging to. Weitzman responded that she attempted a group effort and failed. 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. New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college in Sarasota, Florida.It was founded in 1960 as a private institution known simply as New College, spent several years merged into the University of South Florida, and in 2001 became an autonomous college, the eleventh independent school of the State University System of Florida. Some people are really great at certain functions. But that is how privilege rolls. It is a travesty that numerous other board members have long turned a blind eye to the serious, ongoing harm to employees that Ms. Weitzman was asking them to put a stop to. I recently found out that more than one employee that filed for unemployment during Covid (which the museum accepted) later had lawsuits filed against them by Lindsay and Pam to repay all the money they received because the museum forced everyone to work (many in person in the office) through the beginning of Covid leaving folks with kids, elderly and disabled with no way of earning money. To provide an open, supportive work environment where Staff can thrive. Our mission is to encourage young professionals across industries to learn, support, and ultimately invest in diverse and . I wrote recommendations, and I was dismissed, so I went through proper channels before putting my name and my reputation in the public view, Weitzman said. I cautioned you on direct contact with staff, Saenger wrote. Is there not something to this? Huff said. Does Pam have the museum board over a barrel, given all the board member remarks about all the money she brings in? I dont always agree with her, but I have immense respect for her and what she has accomplished for Asheville. An outspoken member of the Asheville Art Museum's board, the only current trustee to speak publicly about employee complaints of mistreatment, was ousted from the board Tuesday and removed as a museum volunteer. You can . Lewis said that Myers told her, Now is not the time, but did not say when she would be available to speak. The museum only has an Associate Curator and an Assistant Curator and does not appear to be looking to refill the lead position at this time. The Museum invites you to explore our outstanding Collection of American art of the 20th and 21st centuries and to discover the richness of Western North Carolinas unique artistic history. Late-night Thursdays until 9pm; closed Tuesdays. Our Museum needs us to speak for its health and future, now. The Asheville Art Museum's facility at 2 South Pack Square. @ Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library, Asheville Restaurant Week Returns January 17-23, Warren Wilson College Announces Courses for Lifelong Learners, Asheville City Schools Graduation Rate Above State Average, How to Dispose of, or Recycle, That Christmas Tree, Flat Rock Playhouse Announces 2023 Music on the Rock Concert Series, Employment Agencies, Consultants & Businesses. To be banished from the palace on Park Square seems to be a common pathway. The Asheville Art Museum is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, access and inclusionnow and in the future. 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. Zahler mentioned an issue, an apparent reference to employee complaints about Myerss management dating to at least 2015. 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.. In all of my life, Ive never been in a situation where there was such hostility, and I actually felt physically threatened, Benites said. Clear enough? Its our responsibility to promote the health of the museum and its mission. The number of staff that many principals manage far outweighs the art museum staff. 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. Check out www.ashevilleart.org for details. Sounds like a fiefdom to me, regardless of the he says, she says. How any board handles conflicting views in a crisis generally trickles-down to how an operation is managed. The Museum was founded in 1948, and weve had many wonderful years of growth. Check outadditional time lapse videos of the construction project on our YouTube channel. The Museum is nearing the end of the final phase! Board members support the ADA's mission to be a leader and advocate for the vitality of downtown Asheville. So we tear down the Vance Monument but leave the Queen of the Glass Palace in place? Righteous indignation feels great, but solves nothing. An account was already registered with this email. And for the museum, it was a great place to start a conversation about how the next century of artists from the mountains of North Carolina might continue to shape creative expression in America. Emails provided by Weitzman show she raised employee concerns beginning in March 2022. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Artists for Asheville started this petition 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. We have never censored or disciplined a trustee for expressing differing views or opinions. Upon achieving independence, the school adopted its current . 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. Stop wagging your finger, didnt even notice I was doing it., Krider said all Weitzman did was tell me where Pam was standing and repeat something she had already apparently said that working for her is really difficult or however she worded it.. Does BeLoved Asheville clean up after homeless people? The high attrition rate is simply bad business.. Answer Man: Price for natural gas up almost 50 percent? For the first time, the Asheville Chamber Music Series will present its "Rising Star Series" in conjunction with the Asheville Art Museum. Which, come to think of it might be precisely what it is ;) anyhoo Stay Tuned!! Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. 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. Answer Man: Where are the street sweepers? Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra; Friends of the ASYO; Hip Hop Folktale Project; Music in the Schools; Young People's Concerts; Symphony Talk; MusicWorks; About Us. I am disappointed that the Board of the Museum is so insecure that the only way they can deal with differences is by throwing out the person who differs with the majority view. It sounds like that is not happening, and that is not sustainable. Late night Thursdays until 9 pm. The directors autocratic management style is well-known. Admission is now $15 for two floors of art as the second floor just has a children's hands on art room. This is a story with more questions to explore and report on. Krider told Asheville Watchdog she did not threaten anyone. The Asheville Art Museum Collectors' Circle held their seventh annual selection dinner on January 17, 2011. But it was Krider, not Weitzman, who confronted Myers in front of board member Robert Benites. personality issues.A working, functional board should encourage a range of views. We uphold anti-oppressive and equitable practices, while striving to create opportunities for education and action to build a stronger community. They dont want to hear. I chalk it up to there being better opportunities for staff elsewhere. A woman Weitzman identified as Lindsay Rosson, director of finance and operations at the museum, removed Kriders wine glass from her hand and asked her to leave, according to Weitzman, Krider and Lewis. How were these funds stewarded? The board meets the second Monday of each month (unless regular date is a holiday and/or as noted in schedule) at 5:00 p.m. at the Asheville City School Administrative Offices at 85 Mountain St. She said the foundation of the museum was not its collections but rather the people who make the everyday possible. Kate Meehan, Idaho National Laboratory. Kathleen A. This should be more a group effort.. I have heard rumblings about the hostile work environment at AAM for years but I had no idea how bad it was/is. The Asheville Art Museum is one of six recipients of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service! Rep. Richard Hudson (R) introduced national reciprocity for concealed carry in the 118th Congress on Monday night. The staff all seemed so pleasant, and my family enjoyed the art, staff and cafe. Also, while it may be true that toxicity exists in many museums and nonprofits, it is wholly unacceptable to settle for the status quo. We hope you give us a chance and whitelist our website. What is happening at art museums? How tone deaf to use the term Cancel Culture here, in Asheville! But how does that make the museum Youre in MY house? Enrich your involvement with the Museum by joining our vibrant family of Members. Weitzman, who until Tuesday had also been a volunteer docent leading tours of the museum, engaged in a pattern of disruptive behavior, Saenger said in the meeting. All voted in favor of removing Weitzman. Youre focusing on me and refusing to focus on the problem, Pams leadership inability, Weitzman said. The Perspective Caf is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Museum Members receive 12 months of free general admission. 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. The Asheville Art Museum's vision is to transform lives through art. I think well move on with our agenda now. But it was Krider, not Weitzman, who confronted Myers in front of board member Robert Benites. She described the board as hand-picked and curated supporters of Myers, who has been director of the museum for 27 years. We have never censored or disciplined a trustee for expressing differing views or opinions. 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.. I am a former AAM member, but gave up donating awhile back when the staff turnover showed that the negative work environment was effecting the entire institution. I stopped going to the AAM years ago when a charge of $3 was required for 10-13 year old kids from Madison Co. Middle School to enter not much but too much for many of them. Open Wednesdays 11am6pm | Reserve tickets now. Weitzman said a museum patron, Monica Krider, had wanted to share her thoughts with Pam about the Watchdog story. Its an embarrassment. Lewis said Benites intervened, defending Myers. January 23, 2020 GMAT coaching in Chandigarh/Punjab. You may have built the house, but setting up a throne in it makes a rotten endeavor. This is no joke. 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..