Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. And Im sorry to say, Michelle, youre no longer on the board. We need a Museum that honors art handlers, curators, communications staff, docents, program leaders, and community builders alike. No one on that board even bothered to come to Michelles defense and say, Well, wait a minute. Late night Thursdays until 9 pm. This Educational Organization is headquartered in Asheville, NC. Asheville Art Museum executive director Pam Myers. 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 Museums Board of Trustees. becoming a Museum Member, renewing your membership early, or upgrading your current membership. I was docent president at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and because of this had a seat on the board. Jun 17, 2022 - Anonymous Employee in Asheville, NC Recommend CEO Approval Business Outlook Pros My colleagues at the Museum were supportive, creative, and truly nice people. A docent was permanently removed from the board and the docent corps for speaking up about the director. 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. But Zahler also referenced all the good work.. We hope youll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. The Asheville Symphony Sessions; 2021 Virtual Concert Series; News & Press; ASO Radio; Education. 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. Asked for comment, Benites wrote that after significant discussion the board had decided to have all communications be with the chair.. 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.. In the spring of 2021, the board voted on the directors new contract. How tone deaf to use the term Cancel Culture here, in Asheville! Well certainly take everything you had to say to heart, Michelle, as we always have, Saenger said. But it was Krider, not Weitzman, who confronted Myers in front of board member Robert Benites. The museum held a member appreciation party Nov. 10, the day after the Watchdog story appeared. With the Museums major renovation and expansion project comes even greater opportunities to transform lives through art. She is the Treasurer of the Mid America Print Council executive board 2022-2024, and resides in Asheville NC with the goal of bringing a bit of Print League KC to the Blue Ridge Mountains by opening another community print shop. This series of stories, with its tone of personal attack, is not helpful, either to the museum or to Asheville Watchdog. Benites said he was terribly distressed by the incident at the party. When will these leaders ever learn that a toxic environment doesnt benefit the institution. Late-night Thursdays until 9pm; closed Tuesdays. 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. LOL. Asheville Watchdog spoke separately with Weitzman, Lewis, and Krider the day after the event. She urged her fellow trustees to ask for Myerss resignation and to find a new executive director. The only people still working at the KIA that were there when the director came 8 years ago are the maintenance men (after getting $605K in PPP, she only rehired maintenance, not anyone she laid off). Saenger then polled the trustees. I tried to stand in front of Pam. Museum Members receive 12 months of free general admission. 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. As one of the employees who left in 2015 I can attest to the hostile, dysfunctional and toxic work environment. Contact her at skestin@avlwatchdog.org. Enter the code you received via email to sign in, or sign in using a password. / Photo by Mark-Ellis Bennett Mark-Ellis Bennett David Huff Creative The view of the Asheville Art Museum as seen from Pack Square. 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. Such a shame. This is what was decided seven years ago, and it is the same today.. For the record, I am canceling my membership. Ms. Stackhouse, no one is arguing that Pam did a good job (in certain parts of her job). I liken this behavior to what the vandals are doing defacing the museum, Saenger said. I BET she does since, as the story states, she has packed the board with her supporters. After all it is the legal and societal duty of a board member to question and chal- Dictatorships serve dictators and their minions. Commentary This article was originally published in American Thinker Consumers can take a lot, but when you start raisin It is up to our community of artists and supporters of the arts to speak up and advocate for our institution and its health, and insist on the Board and especially Ms. Myers resignation. The Disturbing Details Behind the Bird Flu and Egg Prices. Thank you for supporting the arts! Answer Man: Price for natural gas up almost 50 percent? 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. I hardly said anything. An Asheville Museum of Artwork board member and volunteer docent who spoke publicly about allegations of worker mistreatment at the museum has been ousted from her submit, the Asheville Watchdog claimed. Utilizing the current building footprint of the Museum, this environmentally friendly project includes the historic preservation of the Museums current North Wing (the 1926 Pack Library building), renovation of prior Museum spaces, and new construction to transform current disparate spaces into a cohesive, coherent, and inviting Museum. 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.. This should be more a group effort.. The Asheville Art Museum is committed to being an active leader against racism. I had a very disappointing and surprising interaction with Ms. Myers many years ago, when I brought about 30 tribal childrens paintings from India, which I thought she might be interested in as they were part of an initiative to train gifted children to carry on Warli Tribal painting traditions. Few outside the museum noticed when, this spring, five board members one-fourth of the trustees resigned. Additional support is provided by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. Im sorry that having a frank conversation that you didnt want to have seemed like an attack. Few outside the museum noticed when, this spring, five board members one-fourth of the trustees resigned. A few wine-drunk, middle-aged ladies bickering back and forth is the most hostile situation youve ever been in? 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. 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. Monica Krider, a realtor, attended as a guest of Gretchen Lewis, who is also a realtor and a museum member. My family was a supporter of the Museum for years but I will not be renewing our membership in 2023. We engage, enlighten and inspire individuals, and enrich community through American art of the 20th and 21st centuries. 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. SECU Foundation awarded a grant to the Asheville Art Museum Association, Inc. to support the design, renovation and construction of the regional museum located in downtown Asheville. But it was Krider, not Weitzman, who confronted Myers in front of board member Robert Benites. Inappropriate behavior? Check outadditional time lapse videos of the construction project on our YouTube channel. I liken this behavior to what the vandals are doing defacing the museum, Saenger said. The new Museum will be a celebration of the human creative spirit, a center for lifelong learning and a gathering place for the community. Which, come to think of it might be precisely what it is ;) anyhoo Stay Tuned!! We have never censored or disciplined a trustee for expressing differing views or opinions. What art museum does not have a lead curator? Board of Directors Patrick Chaffin | Ryman Hospitality Properties John Esposito | Warner Music Group Eddie George | Entrepreneur Kevin Green | Chartwell Hospitality Dr. Alex Jahangir | Vanderbilt Medical Center Doug Kreulen | President and CEO, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Ken Levitan | Vector Management Kimberly Lewis | Emerson Grace They dont want to hear. He said Weitzman had disrupted board meetings and had inappropriate communications with staff. I showed her where Pam was, Weitzman said. Katyal: Trial and Conviction of Trump 'Real Possibility in Georgia' MSNBC contributor Neal Katyal said Monday on MSNBC's "The Last Word" that former President Donald Trump w Opinion: Mark Meadows Skates on Voter Fraud Charge. Coronavirus update: Updated bivalent Covid-19 boosters are now available. So it makes me ill and incensed to think that behind those excellent exhibits lies an abusive work environment that has gone on for years, unchallenged by the very people whose job it is to resolve such matters. We fully believe in its vision to transform lives through art. But that is how privilege rolls. Im sorry that having a frank conversation that you didnt want to have seemed like an attack. We share your inclination to get the whole story. I never heard anyone speak with such divine right, Krider said. The first floor had minimal art, just some in the lobby and framed photography. If there are additional episodes of improper staff involvement, I will bring this to the trustees to consider your continuing on the board., On Monday, 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. Not the museum itself, just the board. Its not even just about the people who work there who were hurt by someones tactics and approach, Krider said. "I don't do this lightly," said Paul Saenger, chair of the museum's Board of Trustees, according to a recording of the board . 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. After the meeting, Weitzman told Asheville Watchdog she believed her removal was retribution for challenging the museums leadership. Read more about the history of the Museum, as well as the Museums new building. 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. Asheville Watchdog spoke separately with Weitzman, Lewis, and Krider the day after the event. It is a distinct and dangerous part of the problem. Thorough and revealing (and entertaining!). Does BeLoved Asheville clean up after homeless people? Martin CJ Mongiello, MBA, MA, MCFE Chair of the Board @ foundation, museum, inn, & school. The Asheville Art Museum's vision is to transform lives through art. Celebrated my birthday at the art museum on Monday with 3 generations of family. Asheville Art Museum The newly renovated Asheville Art Museum at night 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. He then deferred to trustee Gary Zahler, who joined the virtual meeting late. , Frame: 16 1/8 x 16 1/2 in. 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.. Hours + Location. 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. Without it we get a situation like this. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. The Asheville Art Museum Collectors' Circle held their seventh annual selection dinner on January 17, 2011. She returned to the group, and Lewis approached Myers. 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. In addition to the regular board meetings, the board holds work sessions one week prior to the regular . 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. Thats absurd, Krider said. 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. Pam should not have been in charge of day to day operations in 2015, and it is shocking that she still is. Michelle Weitzman // Watchdog photo by Starr Sariego. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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