Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. As a friend of the arts and the Museum, your support is more important than ever. Directions: 43 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801. Capes constructed of mylar burst with energy and rustle with subtle sound, the shining material a signifier of care, awareness, displacement, and presence. Christina Carr, an AAM member, serves on the board of the Museum Trustee Association and co-chairs the fundraising advisory board at the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. It wasnt just pam unfortunately. But some trustees felt the board should do more, such as hire an administrator to run the day-to-day operations and free Myers to focus on fundraising and larger issues. 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. [1] An art museum director salary varies based on the level of experience, geographical location, and other factors. Lewis said Benites intervened, defending Myers. Weitzman said a museum patron, Monica Krider, had wanted to share her thoughts with Pam about the Watchdog story. It only takes a moment. Please show Pam Myers and a few of her board minions to the door. Were pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Instead, board member Benites made a motion that Michelle be removed from the board.. She returned to the group, and Lewis approached Myers. Benites said he was terribly distressed by the incident at the party. In 2005, the museum inaugurated its capital campaign artworks for Asheville to develop the new museum. The West Michigan museum where I used to work is eerily similar and the board has chosen to ignore the constant staff turnover. President and Eloise W. Martin Director. In fact, new staff are staying for shorter and shorter periods of time. We refuse to continue being verbally and emotionally abused; we refuse to be gaslit and silenced when we defend ourselves, the letter said. Open daily 11am6pm. Pre-purchased online tickets are encouraged; walk-in tickets are also available. The Asheville Art Museum is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, access and inclusionnow and in the future. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. It is compliance and should fall to the CFO or COOin this case the same individualthe museum was under an extension when I arrived and remained so when I left. Leave, I did. 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. And the sycophants & lickspittles fawning over her psyche & clamoring on how theyve been emotionally upset by this icky reality thing. But that is how privilege rolls. 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. Every request was honored, Krider said. Why some people in the public would do this, she said, I think they have no standing. The Asheville Art Museum is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums which 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 ( I was interested in doing anything I could to help curate a temporary show. This is what was decided seven years ago, and it is the same today.. All I can say is this is not the museum that I have known and loved for so long.. asheville art museum board of directors asheville art museum board of directors. This week, we caught up with Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum. (828) 258-1262. moogseum.org. To engage, enlighten, and inspire individuals and enrich community through dynamic experiences in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Good luck. However, I have not taught a workshop nor class there in over a year. I liken this behavior to what the vandals are doing defacing the museum, Saenger said. As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, the petition had 227 signatures. Time for an even closer look at this situation. I did not sign the letter or go on record with Watchdog because I am afraid of retaliation from Pam and the board members who are in active leadership roles in this community. A total of at least 60 employees left during that time, said Candace Reilly, an ex-employee who organized the letter and gathered signatures. Saenger told Asheville Watchdog that as far as he knew, the museum, established in 1948, had never removed a trustee. 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. Watchdog is giving the Museum every opportunity to share their side. Asheville may be best known for its traditional acoustic music, but Moog showed that the swirling, space-age sounds of his synthesizer could fit quite naturally against the mysterious backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. Phone (828) 254-7162 Email [email protected] Participating member of the North Carolina Grassroots Science Museums collaborative with education funding by the North Carolina General Assembly. After the meeting, Weitzman told Asheville Watchdog she believed her removal was retribution for challenging the museums leadership. Employee complaints have been a source of discord on the museum board. And Im sorry to say, Michelle, youre no longer on the board. The Museum, with the assistance of its volunteer docents and support from the Asheville Area Section of the American Institute of Architects, is proud to be a regional affiliate partner hosting the WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards each year. Candace Reilly, one of six former employees who complained to the trustees in 2015, told Asheville Watchdog the board had a chance to do the right thing, but chose to support Myers. Museum Members receive 12 months of free general admission. Find Us Location 2 South Pack Square Asheville, NC 28801 Mailing Address PO Box 1717 Asheville, NC 28802-1717 Phone 828.253.3227 Art Inquiries In the letter to the Trustees, the 29 ex-employees wrote that current and former staff want to reclaim our Museum an institution built by the community and for the community.. Asheville-born and Raleigh-Durham-based interdisciplinary artist Sherrill Rolands socially driven practice draws upon his experience with wrongful incarceration for a crime he did not commit and seeks to open conversations about how we care for our communities and one another with compassion and understanding. All voted in favor of removing Weitzman. Yes, thats the definition of insanity, Homelessness and First Amendment On Trial in Asheville. Its also about what it looks like for Asheville, all of us.. Ms. Myers just doesnt seem to be very interested in finding out what that problem is, or correcting it. Youre no longer a volunteer.. 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. David Huff, one of five museum board members who resigned in the spring, said the trustees were doubling down by removing Weitzman. I love when TheRump ends with that you always know more bad news is inevitably on the way. 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. Trustees who have attempted to redress the toxic culture fostered by Myers have been shut down or shut out, the petition said. She said the foundation of the museum was not its collections but rather the people who make the everyday possible. But behind the facade, it gets ugly, an Asheville Watchdog investigation found. Editors Note: This story has been updated to correct a sources error in a quote about the museum where Myers worked before Asheville. Nonprofit journalism in the public interest. She returned to the group, and Lewis approached Myers. One of the only free art museums in Asheville, the Black Mountain College Museum is small and donation-based. Balanced reporting would detract from your outrageous reporting which is the goal of the Watchdog. 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. so we have no idea how or whom to speak to when we dont want to speak to Pam; were talking about no on-boarding so if we do get it wrong and get berated, we had no way of preparing; were talking about a complete lack of trust and order from the top down (can you imagine if you start your job with your boss immediately mistrusting you and treating you like garbage? I chalk it up to there being better opportunities for staff elsewhere. 6,000+ Collaborations with Artists + Organizations. This is no joke. Museum Association of New York. This sounds like unbalanced reporting to me for which this Watchdog should be shamed. Elaine Bleakney, a poet and writer in Asheville who knows Reilly and Grossman, wrote the online petition. Considering all the current conversation about her quest for perfection, I came away thinking I dont count for much in her world view. Additional support is provided by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. Adopted as an educational framework, particularly in social justice and ethnic studies, Olin guides individuals through a process of reflection, action, reconciliation, and transformation. . Never had any direct interaction with her but this article helps make more sense of why it seemed like such an unhappy place. I will ask for your dismissal as a board member and museum volunteer.. That Ms. Myers said Youre in my house while standing in the museum tells you everything you need to know. In fact, by the third story there were not even responses from the organization/board to the reporters inquiries. Unpopular Opinion but Reality: Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion. That was like one of the few times over the course of multiple years, working as an art student in the city, that I was even able to step foot inside that space, said Maurer, who uses they/them pronouns. Does it have to come to that? The work environment is beyond toxic, Huff and Green wrote in a 2021 summary. Leaves me wondering what nerve was touched that sent this reader into such a defensive stance. I cautioned you on direct contact with staff, Saenger wrote. 120 College St, Asheville . DIGITAL EXHIBITION: Dear Lorna, Love Ray features letters written by Ray Johnson to Lorna Blaine Halper while Johnson was a student at Black Mountain College. At the board meeting Tuesday, Benites said he was terribly, terribly upset by the incident. On this page, you will find ways to experience art and performance, learn more about Black Mountain College and its artists, and even participate in virtual events. Inappropriate behavior? Join, renew, or give the gift of Museum membership today. Youre no longer a volunteer.. 0 404 4 minutes read. 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. As a Member, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits while providing vital support for the Museums engaging education programs and innovative exhibitions. The Asheville Art Museum is a regional affiliate partner of the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, hosting an annual juried competition for students in grades 712 from all across Western North Carolina. Inappropriate behavior? More than two dozen former employees of the Asheville Art Museum have signed a letter calling for the removal of the longtime executive director and an end to what they describe as a culture of fear and toxic leadership., The letter, signed by 29 ex-staffers, said mistreatment of staff as reported by Asheville Watchdog requires the museums board to do their duty and remove Pam Myers immediately in order to protect the current and future health and viability of the Institution., An online petition also went up Tuesday morning, calling on artists to support the museum staff and Myerss removal, and start the process of reestablishing trust and transparency with our entire community.. 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. 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. I know its not very politically correct, Hamill said. 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. An enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Luzene Hill advocates for Indigenous sovereigntylinguistically, culturally, and individually. I think this cancel culture has gone so totally out of control, and I think thats exactly what Michelle is dealing with, Zahler said, not recognizing the fact that all the good work that had gone on before, that there was an issue, and because of that, Pam should be canceled. Its our responsibility to promote the health of the museum and its mission. The Business Manager position is part time (non exempt) and is expected to be 24 hours per week. Eight others complained to board members David Huff and Darren Green, beginning in 2020. Your email address will not be published. New models of board governance have been introduced. Subscribe to our free Asheville Watchdog news alerts. 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.. 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. If youre able, please consider supporting the Museum through a donation; by becoming a Museum Member, renewing your membership early, or upgrading your current membership; or by shopping or purchasing a gift card in the Museum Store. I believe we are on a solid path forward, Click wrote. But it was Krider, not Weitzman, who confronted Myers in front of board member Robert Benites. Check out the best museums in Asheville to visit in 2023. Some face changes in governance within non-profit organizations and municipalities. If this reader is interested in being even handed and balanced, where are the comments speaking to what is going on at the museum with its apparently comfortable complacent board, and an executive director who may be highly effective at raising money but who appears to not be qualified to manage people. She described the board as hand-picked and curated supporters of Myers, who has been director of the museum for 27 years. This is about Pam Myers lack of respect for her staff, poor management, and inability to be an effective leader. Since 2017, while construction has been ongoing, the museum's educational programs have continued without cessation, serving over 360,000 participants last year through programs on site at . Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. It was dealt with in a combative way, Shull said. Right, not only does Ms. Meyers need to be replaced immediately her unquestioningly compliant board of trustees does as well. This exhibition combines Hills use of mylar safety blankets alongside recent drawings. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus. The word used by three former staff is traumatic. , Both times, the board brought in an executive coach. Contact her at [email protected]. Opinion: Fewer restrictions on guns? Required fields are marked *. We want everyone to have access to our stories. His reason had something to with the theater it could have been anything. Open Thursdays 11am9pm | Reserve tickets now. Enrich your involvement with the Museum by joining our vibrant family of Members. No one on that board even bothered to come to Michelles defense and say, Well, wait a minute. Do we only care about rectifying injustices from long ago? 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. . Yeah, were not talking about typos or lending a hand. We have never censored or disciplined a trustee for expressing differing views or opinions. 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? So we tear down the Vance Monument but leave the Queen of the Glass Palace in place? My generals ..and my highly classified documents. 120 College Street Asheville, NC 28801 828-350-8484 [email protected] To schedule a group tour please contact us at [email protected] Our Mission Statement The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) preserves and continues the legacy of educational and artistic innovation of Black Mountain College (BMC). Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. Saenger told Asheville Watchdog that as far as he knew, the museum, established in 1948, had never removed a trustee. She gives off a very let them eat cake! vibe. But behind. You said to me you will not stand down on this. We uphold anti-oppressive and equitable practices, while striving to create opportunities for education and action to build a stronger community. This is a story with more questions to explore and report on. Weitzman said she wanted to make clear that she was not the one confronting Myers at the party. ); were talking about watching kind, hard-working, talented young and old professionals cry at their desks day after day. Is there not something to this? Huff said. The board twice brought in an executive coach, but staff complaints about Myers's management style persisted. Shes also bad at her job i.e. Is there not something to this? Huff said. Please, check your inbox! I showed her where Pam was, Weitzman said. The Museums galleries, theMuseum Store, andPerspective Caf are open to the public. She and other current board members, as well as past board chairs, would only answer questions submitted in writing. Revelate builds upon Hills investigation of pre-contact cultures. If they are not publicly stating that the situation, as reported, has improved are we to believe that it hasnt, or perhaps gotten worse? Perhaps the site hasnt been updated. Glad to see the board has had enough of the mean girls behavior. 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. This is no joke. Show your support for our community by helping us power authoritative, in-depth reporting, and keeping access free for neighbors who need it. Weitzman said she wanted to make clear that she was not the one confronting Myers at the party. West oversaw the Frye Art Museum's expansion and renovation, which was designed by Rick Sundberg of Olson Sundberg Kundig . She said the foundation of the museum was not its collections but rather the people who make the everyday possible. Im sorry that having a frank conversation that you didnt want to have seemed like an attack. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. 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