How tone deaf to use the term Cancel Culture here, in Asheville! Its an embarrassment. But I feel like that has been compromised on numerous occasions by Michelle Weitzman.. All I can say is this is not the museum that I have known and loved for so long.. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. Clear enough? 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. Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. It sounds like it is time for the board to put Pam in her place as successful fundraiser in chief and keep her away from the rest of the organization. I never heard anyone speak with such divine right, Krider said. We've recently sent you an authentication link. We want everyone to have access to our stories. Youre focusing on me and refusing to focus on the problem, Pams leadership inability, Weitzman said. Never miss an update by signing up for our free Watchdog News Alerts, delivered directly to your inbox. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. The Asheville Art Museum's vision is to transform lives through art. Open daily 11am6pm. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. Natural Collector October 19, 2022-April 24, 2023 This is no way to run any organization, let alone a supposedly not for profit arts organization. Its just like, Wow, finally., Shull said he would like to see Myers retire and be celebrated for all that shes done and have a clean slate for the community to attract a really good director with significant talent that reflects the values that Asheville projects.. 'I Look at Her as a Hero' Considering all the current conversation about her quest for perfection, I came away thinking I dont count for much in her world view. The Board of Trustees meets regularly throughout the year and hosts the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Annual Meeting which presents the institution's goals and showcases its accomplishments to stakeholders, members, and the community. Theyre not hearing. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. The Museum is moving with awareness and commitment, through assessment, training and engagement, to implementation and accountability. But behind. Youre no longer a volunteer.. This week, we caught up with Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum. 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. Grace is a 2021 participant in the McKinsey Black Leadership Academy Management Accelerator and a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory. I believe we are on a solid path forward, Click wrote. This is a story with more questions to explore and report on. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion. 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. So California Woke values complainer got the boot for causing problems. 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. 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. Some face changes in governance within non-profit organizations and municipalities. 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. Roger McCredie January 8, 2015. 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. 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. 1,000+ Events. Required fields are marked *. ALT ASO -- Asheville Symphony at Asheville Art Museum ALT ASO Performance at TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2022 5:30 P.M. VIP RECEPTION 6:00 P.M. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Email [emailprotected]. A renovated and expanded museum opened in 2019 in a glass. Yes, I also saw the similarities to that narciopath Agent Orange. 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.. Olin emphasizes that we are in constant state of motion and discovery. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. 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.. 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. Weitzman said a museum patron, Monica Krider, had wanted to share her thoughts with Pam about the Watchdog story. Weitzman was the only current trustee who agreed to be interviewed for the Watchdoginvestigative story and was quoted saying the museum looks really pretty on the outside. President and Eloise W. Martin Director. Asheville Art Museum. 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. But behind the facade, it gets ugly, an Asheville Watchdog investigation found. An account was already registered with this email. Nonprofit journalism in the public interest. 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. Sections will explore the history of pattern and decorations use in American art during and after the now formally recognized movement was established. The Business Manager manages all tracking of financial data; provides financial and administrative support to the Managing Director. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. This is no joke. Thank you for registering!Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. Why some people in the public would do this, she said, I think they have no standing. On view through March 20! Krider told Asheville Watchdog she did not threaten anyone. The Asheville Art Museum's vision is to transform lives through art. Experience great art while mingling with fellow art lovers at an opening reception, watch a local ceramist throw a pot in her studio, discover new creative skills at a workshopall this and more. She returned to the group, and Lewis approached Myers. Book effortlessly online with Tripadvisor! Three of the board members who resigned in May, including Huff and Green, told The Watchdog the treatment of employees and the boards response was a factor in their decision to leave. This sounds like unbalanced reporting to me for which this Watchdog should be shamed. Monica Krider, a realtor, attended as a guest of Gretchen Lewis, who is also a realtor and a museum member. We are going to pull out all the stops until theres change.. The Business Manager position is part time (non exempt) and is expected to be 24 hours per week. 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 . Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. At some point words need to translate into both action and changed behavior, not just more words. My generals ..and my highly classified documents. Probably very much like Ms. Myers. Museum Members receive 12 months of free general admission. 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. I was responsible for applying for the solicitation license, in my years long career as a grants manager I was never responsible for that. Time for an even closer look at this situation. Pre-purchased online tickets are encouraged; walk-in tickets are also available. Leaves me wondering what nerve was touched that sent this reader into such a defensive stance. The museum's collection of 5,000 objects and art pieces are displayed in beautiful galleries throughout the three-floor . In fact, by the third story there were not even responses from the organization/board to the reporters inquiries. 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.. 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.. Asheville Art Museum Art Exhibit: RAUSCHENBERG: A Gift in Your Pocket Mar 1 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center Asheville Gallery of Art "Awakenings" Group Show Mar 1 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Asheville Gallery of Art Luzene Hill: Revelate Mar 1 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Asheville Art Museum In that time has there been any kind of official response from the organization, its board or director? Through his work, Roland engages visitors in dialogues around community, social contract, identity, biases, and other deeply human experiences. I liken this behavior to what the vandals are doing defacing the museum, Saenger said. We understand, the web can be a dangerous place! Museum Members receive 12 months of free general admission. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. 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. Asheville Community Theatre | Business Manager. Pre-purchased online tickets are encouraged; walk-in tickets are also available. Leave, I did. 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. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. However, I have not taught a workshop nor class there in over a year. 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. And Im sorry to say, Michelle, youre no longer on the board. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. The Best of Asheville: Private 2.5-hour Walking Tour By Travel Curious - Asheville City Tours 2-3 hours Experience all that Asheville has to offer with a private 2.5-hour highlights tour led by an experienced local guide who Free cancellation from $170.00 per adult Reserve Travelers talk about " permanent collection " (10 reviews) " black mountain An enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Luzene Hill advocates for Indigenous sovereigntylinguistically, culturally, and individually. ); were talking about watching kind, hard-working, talented young and old professionals cry at their desks day after day. To be balanced, the reporter quoted two museum donors, one who defended the museum and gave her reasons, and one who stopped supporting the museum and gave his reasons. As a 501c3 organization isnt the Asheville Art Museum supposed to update its North Carolina solicitation license, reporting tax information etc. The letter signers include gallery attendants, grant managers, events coordinators, and others whose tenure at the museum spanned 2011 to this year. The Asheville Art Museum ONE DAY will be a museum of and for the community. Id like to be able to do that more, because Ashevilles been a great community for us to live in, Shull said. Stan Hastings, President. She noted that Myers came from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. As has been echoed again and again, there is a fierce and ugly disconnect between Pam and her supporters and the community. 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. Late-night Thursdays until 9pm; closed Tuesdays. She returned to the group, and Lewis approached Myers. We refuse to continue being verbally and emotionally abused; we refuse to be gaslit and silenced when we defend ourselves, the letter said. 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. In all of my life, Ive never been in a situation where there was such hostility, and I actually felt physically threatened, Benites said. It was not an attack.. After the meeting, Weitzman told Asheville Watchdog she believed her removal was retribution for challenging the museums leadership. The patron was in her face, not me., Were clear, Saenger replied. Directions: 43 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801. Eight others complained to board members David Huff and Darren Green, beginning in 2020. Sunday Funday the Old-Fashioned Way! For immediate assistance or general inquiries, please call 828.253.3227. No data on how many employees that worked at the AAM during the last 10 years who have not signed this mud-slinging article. 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. 200,000+ Visitors. The work environment is beyond toxic, Huff and Green wrote in a 2021 summary. 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. 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. All voted in favor of removing Weitzman. Weitzman addressed the incident at the party by saying it occurred at the end of the evening with very few guests at the museum.. All voted in favor of removing Weitzman. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. Buc-ees convenience store coming to Henderson County? 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