Every request was honored, Krider said. People world-wide can now explore the Museums diverse Collection of 20th- and 21st-century American art online from the comfort of their homes. I will ask for your dismissal as a board member and museum volunteer.. Asheville loves art, of course, but they also despise bullies. Asheville Art Museum moved to Pack Square in 1992. sorry, that should have read: [this] reminds me of another highly manipulative/ vindictive psychopath Anyway, really, the powers to be in the City of Asheville/ Buncombe County now is the time for some serious damage control because I highly doubt this is going away anytime soon. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus. 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.. Thats absurd, Krider said. Much like their reaccreditation, grants, and other projects they are constantly asking for extensions. 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. 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. Krider said that she was disturbed by what she had read in the Watchdog story. Krider told Asheville Watchdog she did not threaten anyone. His reason had something to with the theater it could have been anything. 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. 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.. Those that dont agree to play that game will be made irrelevant or removed entirely. Pottery by Eugene Since 1986 ceramic artists Rosa and Winton Eugene have created fine and functional pottery that often addresses important topics such as race. Ms. Hamill sounds elitist, uncaring and out of touch. In response to Asheville Watchdogs story last month, the board stood by Myers, and at its next meeting removed an outspoken trustee, Michelle Weitzman, the only member to speak publicly about employee complaints, for what the board chair described as a pattern of disruptive behavior., The board made very clear theyre going to do absolutely nothing, Reilly said. 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. The Museums galleries, theMuseum Store, andPerspective Caf are open to the public. The Museum presents a robust schedule of engaging exhibitions featuring American art of the 20th and 21st centuries. 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. It is an age old story. She described the board as hand-picked and curated supporters of Myers, who has been director of the museum for 27 years. It does appear there is a campaign in the community to keep this story alive, so how does remaining silent help? 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 was the only current trustee who agreed to be interviewed for the Watchdog investigative story and was quoted saying the museum looks really pretty on the outside. Asheville Art Museum Project Focus Area: Approved by Board of Directors: January 2014 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. Yes, thats the definition of insanity, Homelessness and First Amendment On Trial in Asheville. What happened to free First Wednesday admission to Asheville Art Museum? Pam has a platform and could issue a statement at any time. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. The high attrition rate is simply bad business.. [1] 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. Tribal art is an odd omission as the PMA goes to great lengths these days to include Native American people in their exhibition, but this is not Portland . Asheville Watchdog spoke separately with Weitzman, Lewis, and Krider the day after the event. This all sounds like a vanity project that continues under an implicit threat of being fired, thrown off the board, or Ill hold my breath until I turn blue, then Ill take my toys (money) and go home and then youll be sorry!. In all of my life, Ive never been in a situation where there was such hostility, and I actually felt physically threatened, Benites said. Krider said that she was disturbed by what she had read in the Watchdog story. It wasnt just pam unfortunately. 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. This has led Hill to incorporate the idea of Olinthe Nahuatl word for the natural rhythms of the universein Aztec cosmology in her work. 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. Krider, according to Weitzman, continued with her rant about a terrible way to run an organization.. 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. No data on how many employees that worked at the AAM during the last 10 years who have not signed this mud-slinging article. Pam Myers - Executive Director - Asheville Art Museum | LinkedIn Pam Myers Executive Director at Asheville Art Museum Asheville, North Carolina, United States 489 followers 483. 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.. I believe we are on a solid path forward, Click wrote. Directions: 43 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. Additional support is provided by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. It is a cornerstone in this art-rich town that we can all be very proud of.. 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. As Asheville Watchdog reported, Reilly was one of six former employees who complained to the board in 2015. This success can be attributed to the great work the staff did in marketing and administration. Board mem- 0 . I argue they have one of the most important roles at the museumand similarly, in any guest-serving institutions. 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. 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. It isnt just that Pam treats staff horrendously though that should be enough to fire her. However, our ads are for local businesses and are unobstrusive. . The 68,000-square-foot museum features 20th and 21st century American art. Leadership Advisory Committee. Until Pam and the Board are replaced by people who are actually in service to Ashevilles citizens, it will continue to be A Hell Museum. But behind the facade, it gets ugly, an Asheville Watchdog investigation found. Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. Right, not only does Ms. Meyers need to be replaced immediately her unquestioningly compliant board of trustees does as well. Randy Shull, a prominent Asheville artist who served on the museums board for about 10 years, said he and his wife stopped donating to the museum over Myerss handling of a dispute around 2014 with the Diana Wortham Theater over space the two organizations shared in a cultural center called Pack Place. 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. Job Description. Shes also bad at her job i.e. This is one octogenarian who maybe shouldnt have access to a computer, or at the very least remember to click next when reviewing the states list of documents. Yeah, were not talking about typos or lending a hand. But behind the facade, it gets ugly, an Asheville Watchdog investigation found. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. And curated supporters of Myers, who has been director of the 20th and 21st centuries the! 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