Newfields controversy

A news release sent Friday evening noted only: "Dr. The museum newfields controversy not respond to a request made Tuesday for more information regarding the circumstances surrounding Burnette's departure.

By Francesca Aton. Following the unexpected exit of Newfields chief executive Colette Pierce Burnette in November, the Indianapolis museum has been rapidly losing members from its board of trustees. Jason Noyan, an executive director at the field office for J. Morgan Private Bank, was the latest to resign in December. Ushering in a moment of change, Burnette was the first Black executive at Newfields. It remains unclear why she left her post. After her departure, Burnette was temporarily replaced by Michael Kubacki, a former trustee and banker who is white.

Newfields controversy

A protest outside Newfields Sunday afternoon swelled calls for transparency and criticism from the community. But those attending, saw dozens of protestors outside the doors of the museum. Wildstyle Paschall, artist and community advocate, said Burnette had just started the important work of building bridges. Mary Huebner is a docent at the museum. With the abrupt change, she thinks an explanation is due. Burnette is not the only leader to depart. Recently, three Newfields board members also exited the organization. Board member Adrienne Sims resigned on Nov. Otto Frenzel IV, a four-year board member, resigned a month ago, and Gary Hirschberg, a five-year board member, resigned as Burnette stepped away. Burnette left just 15 months into the job. He resigned after public outcry over a job post that sought to maintain the organization's "traditional, core, white art audience" while increasing the diversity of Newfields visitors. On the same night as the protest, the African American Coalition of Indianapolis and 18 other Black organizations signed on to the call for transparency.

Rory Appleton Indianapolis Star. Support WFYI. Ushering in a moment of change, Burnette was the first Black executive at Newfields.

The resignations follow the November departure of a woman who was the president and chief executive officer, and four members of the Board of Trustees, which runs operations at the museum. In a sudden act, Colette Pierce Burnette left the top leadership job of the art and nature museum on Nov. Her appointment came after the February resignation of Charles Venable. The departure of Burnette led to backlash from dozens of protestors and a strong statement against the decision from nearly 20 community organizations. A representative with Newfields also confirmed those four members resigned but did not comment further on the matter. The representative did provide a point of clarification about the role of the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees in the email to News 8. Barry Wormser independently confirmed he resigned in an email to News 8 but declined to comment further.

A news release sent Friday evening noted only: "Dr. The museum did not respond to a request made Tuesday for more information regarding the circumstances surrounding Burnette's departure. The loss appears poised to thrust Newfields, which houses the city's largest art museum in the Indianapolis Museum of Art, back into familiar controversy. In , Newfields was rocked by a string of racism accusations , most notably a job posting that sought a director to "attract a broader and more diverse audience while maintaining the Museum's traditional, core, white art audience. The posting and other incidents led to tremendous public outcry from the arts community and greater Indianapolis area. Burnette was hired last year after a lengthy search following Venable's resignation.

Newfields controversy

By Alex Greenberger. Senior Editor, ARTnews. We have made mistakes. We have ignored, excluded, and disappointed members of our community and staff. We pledge to do better. This past July, Kelli Morgan, an associate curator of American art, resigned from the museum. That policy had been in place since Using the results, the museum would then begin slimming down its collection. Alongside both of these measures came a focus on blockbuster exhibitions, including ones devoted to Bugatti cars and Henri Matisse. These programs rankled some who claimed that Venable had lost sight of what made the Indianapolis Museum of Art so important: its holdings, which are widely considered to be rich and art historically significant.

Kilos to stone and pounds

Partners Expand the sub menu. We were looking forward to expanding the partnership with Newfields in , which has now come to a complete halt. All rights reserved. Indiana Week in Review. Rory Appleton Indianapolis Star. The posting and other incidents led to tremendous public outcry from the arts community and greater Indianapolis area. Copyright Scripps Media, Inc. Librarian and activist Stephen Lane spoke at the gathering. Newfields dates back to an art exhibition on Nov. It remains unclear why she left her post.

A Newfields job posting that some critics have called racist has stirred an outcry from the community. It was also followed swiftly by the resignation of longtime Indianapolis art museum executive Charles Venable. The controversy springs from a Newfields job description that said the Indianapolis art museum was looking for a director who could foster more diversity while also maintaining the museum's "traditional, core, white art audience.

Fishers — March 9, Highlights: Avon vs. Burnette was hired last year after a lengthy search following Venable's resignation. Rory Appleton Indianapolis Star. Click here to manage all Newsletters. Since then, two have been added: Robert Scheele, a Merrill Lynch executive who has served on the Newfields board of governors since , and Leon Jackson, the chief executive of diversity in Leadership Program Inc. These questions are not just conjecture; they stem from a discernible pattern in Indianapolis where Black professionals seldom see long tenures in executive roles. We demand more information based on the positive impact that Dr. The loss appears poised to thrust Newfields, which houses the city's largest art museum in the Indianapolis Museum of Art, back into familiar controversy. Burnette left just 15 months into the job. Colette Pierce Burnette, announced departure from her position last week.