In charge of it all is a board of trustees with full authority over the museum's affairs, and one that operates out of public view, often yielding to the will of its long-time executive. Employee complaints have been a source of discord on the museum board. There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success. John Dalberg-Acton. She couldnt have cared less. 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.. People must stand up to workplace bullies from the start. North Carolina museum exhibiting 20th century American art. How tone deaf to use the term Cancel Culture here, in Asheville! Subscribe to our free Asheville Watchdog news alerts. Glad to see the board has had enough of the mean girls behavior. I am sad that the place I called my sanctuary and loved being at has been so tarnished. This Board is lacking in their duties to the future of this Museum if they do not address an obviously toxic environment. Trustees who have attempted to redress the toxic culture fostered by Myers have been shut down or shut out of attempts to do so. Sounds like Myers is very good at acquiring funds. Every request was honored, Krider said. She returned to the group, and Lewis approached Myers. This is what was decided seven years ago, and it is the same today.. 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. Abigail L. Martin, Keller Williams Realty. It is well-past time for the Board of Trustees of the Asheville Art Museum to remove Pam Myers as Executive Director. Saenger told Asheville Watchdog that as far as he knew, the museum, established in 1948, had never removed a trustee. Admission is now $15 for two floors of art as the second floor just has a children's hands on art room. 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. Please show Pam Myers and a few of her board minions to the door. Kill the messenger certainly sends a message to the employees Every request was honored, Krider said. Your involvement is essential, now 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. Weitzman said a museum patron, Monica Krider, had wanted to share her thoughts with Pam about the Watchdog story. The board may be putting itself at risk by not taking more concrete action given that what has been done so far appears to be ineffective, nice words but little effect. 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. Wish I had a membership so I could cancel it! Weitzman said she wanted to make clear that she was not the one confronting Myers at the party. 120 College Street. I liken this behavior to what the vandals are doing defacing the museum, Saenger said. Established by artists and incorporated in 1948, the 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. Shall I bring my dull wit writ upon signage to the entrance to the museum to start protesting? 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. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. I was active in the discussions during the founding of Pack Place and have been a close observer and frequent critic of the Asheville Art Museum since the Civic Center basement days. Few outside the museum noticed when, this spring, five board members one-fourth of the trustees resigned. Join, renew, or give the gift of Museum membership today. Apparently they built Pams house and thats all we need to know. Certainly should not be punished for it ! 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). Theyre not hearing. Just because a person is adept at fundraising does not make them suited to be an executive director who directly manages (a fluctuating number of) employees. She said the foundation of the museum was not its collections but rather the people who make the everyday possible. 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. My family was a supporter of the Museum for years but I will not be renewing our membership in 2023. Krider said she felt the response to Lewis was not right and approached Myers a second time. Such a shame. The Museum was founded in 1948, and weve had many wonderful years of growth. Thats absurd, Krider said. This vision fails when it cant provide a sustainable livelihood and psychologically safe workplace environment for its employees. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. We've recently sent you an authentication link. 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. The board has stood by Myers, 65, largely crediting her with raising $30 million in a capital campaign that spanned well over a decade. Thats absurd, Krider said. Benites said he was terribly distressed by the incident at the party. Now that the construction is complete and the Museum has reopened, we invite you into our new space to experience our fresh approaches, additions to the Collection, exhibitions, and educational programs. Imperious , high handed acts rarely work well. The building is beautiful. Celebrated my birthday at the art museum on Monday with 3 generations of family. The high attrition rate is simply bad business.. 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. In charge of it all is a board of trustees with full authority over the museum's affairs, and one that operates out of public view, often yielding to the will of its long-time executive director, Pamela Myers. Tickets are non-refundable. Im envious of such a sheltered life. 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.. 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. Not the museum itself, just the board. The high attrition rate is simply bad business.. The museum held a member appreciation party Nov. 10, the day after the Watchdog story appeared. 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. The majority of current and former employees could share profusely regarding Pams managerial style. We engage, enlighten and inspire individuals, and enrich community through American art of the 20th and 21st centuries. I would like to know exactly what public money from which governments, city, county, state and federal, the museum receives, and how that money is used vs. the same for private donations. As a long term Asheville Art Museum member, donor, former volunteer, former Gallery Associate, and current Adult Studio instructor, I am little more than an outside observer to the day to day operations of the museum so this story has been revealing. 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. Krider said she asked Myers about the Watchdog story, and Myers declined to discuss it, saying, according to Krider, Youre in my house.. Read more about the history of the Museum, as well as the Museums new building. I, and another board member, opposed the contract because of the directors extreme salary and benefits while maintaining a toxic working environment ($242K this year with a $35K bonus if shes still here next month). But how does that make the museum Youre in MY house? GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro College Department of Art presents Kenn Kotara's exhibition, "social geometries," Oct. 15-Nov. 15 in the Anne Rudd Galyon Gallery, and the Irene Cullis Galley in the Cowan Humanities Building on campus. Kathleen A. But I feel like that has been compromised on numerous occasions by Michelle Weitzman.. That Myers has brought in a lot of funding is great. 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. Every request was honored, Krider said. Weitzman said at the meeting she was being punished for standing up against the mistreatment of employees. I never heard anyone speak with such divine right, Krider said. The Perspective Caf is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Pre-purchased online tickets are encouraged; walk-in tickets are also available. In all of my life, Ive never been in a situation where there was such hostility, and I actually felt physically threatened, Benites said. This is no way to run any organization, let alone a supposedly not for profit arts organization. Staff are not and never have requested that the board acquiesce to a certain set of demands. The high attrition rate is simply bad business.. The number of staff that many principals manage far outweighs the art museum staff. 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. Is there a record of how many employees have quit over the past 3-5 years? Its an art museum of American art, thats its sole focus. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. North Carolina museum exhibiting 20th century American art. We need a Museum that operates with consistent transparency and accountability. Cons The biggest con of working at the Museum is the Executive Director. Saenger then polled the trustees. 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.. [Show slideshow] Gallery / Gift Shop Museums Craft Trails. Museum Members receive 12 months of free general admission. Few outside the museum noticed when, this spring, five board members one-fourth of the trustees resigned. The staff all seemed so pleasant, and my family enjoyed the art, staff and cafe. However, I have not taught a workshop nor class there in over a year. Having said that, my guess is that this situation will not end well for Meyers or the board if the current direction continues. The directors autocratic management style is well-known. Few outside the museum noticed when, this spring, five board members one-fourth of the trustees resigned. They garnered support from the city, county, and other government sources for renovation, but tax payer dollars do not have a stake in year to year operations to my knowledge. Can I help pay off kids school lunch debts? Weitzman responded that she attempted a group effort and failed. To view financial information and our governance, please visit our Finance and Governance page. 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 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. 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. All voted in favor of removing Weitzman. Additional support is provided by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. Kate Meehan, Idaho National Laboratory. Coronavirus update: Updated bivalent Covid-19 boosters are now available. He then deferred to trustee Gary Zahler, who joined the virtual meeting late. 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? I cautioned you on direct contact with staff, Saenger wrote. Oh, and I love the quote.. 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