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2011What do you see as the Museum’s Vision?
Community members were invited to attend the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Springfield Art Museum on September 8 to share feedback about the search for a new Springfield Art Museum director.
At the meeting, a facilitator from the city’s human resources department said verbal comments were not scheduled and had prepared three questions, asking the audience to submit their responses on yellow post-it notes.
A Vision Bigger than a Post-It Note
Members in the audience included local artists and arts administrators and art faculty from Missouri State University and Drury University. Several people in attendance had expected to make comments and requested to be heard. Board member and local artist Judith Fowler said, “As a board member, I’d like to hear what they have to say.”
“We don’t want to do this without all this feedback,” board member Jane Troup said.”We really need you.”
About a dozen people spoke after that. Many comments were made by local artist and Springfield Regional Arts Council Past President Jeanie Morris, who also submitted to the board her notes and letters collected from other members of the community.
In a letter addressed to Art Friends, Morris writes, “Many of us feel that now it’s important for the museum to collaborate and partner up with the many wonderful arts organizations in our community. We also feel it is important to do things to make the museum inviting and exciting to the community…Our area arts educators should feel welcome to bring in their students.”
Suggestions mentioned repeatedly included providing more education programs, having an accessible and informative website, and consider collaborating with other community arts organizations for events such as art film festivals, critical art talks, or special arts performances in the museum auditorium.
Immediate Past President of the Springfield Regional Arts Council Carl Price said the museum is, “an incredible facility that is incredibly under-utilized.”
Following the feedback session, the facilitator said that approximately 80 applications for the position had been received and were being reviewed, and the position is still considered “open until filled.” The city continues to accept applications, said Assistant City Manager Collin Quigley, who also attended the meeting.
The city facilitator said there would be some type of “meet and greet” community event with a few of the finalists, although there was no set date announced, and it was unclear if the format for the event would be social or more of a public forum with questions and answers.
Negative Press
A few days later, this blog post on Real Clear Arts titled “Would You Take This Museum Job?” was posted by an independent journalist who has worked as a reporter in the culture and business sections of The New York Times and contributed to many other national publications. She had read a couple of newspaper articles written by non-arts reporters and was obviously dismayed that community input was sought by the board.
She writes, “…choosing a director with so much public input, voiced at a public meeting, will raise expectations about that poor director’s consultations with the public in the future.”
To which Leah Jenkins Hamilton, the Executive Director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council wrote this reply, “After many years under a great leader that built a strong collection for the museum, the publicly funded institution has an opportunity to build upon its assets. Who better to help build that vision than a board that knows the thoughts and ideas of its supporters, i.e. the public?”
Next Opportunities for Input
The regularly scheduled meetings of the art museum board of directors are on the second Thursday of the month, the next scheduled for October 13 in the Art Museum Auditorium, 1111 E. Brookside Drive. These meetings are open to the public, and here is also a list of contact information for board members on the city website.
Following are questions put forward by the city human resources department who is currently screening the candidates that the board will vote on to be the next director of the art museum.
[blockquote]Regarding the new Director-
What qualities would you value most?
[/blockquote]
[blockquote]From this point and moving forward -
What direction do you believe the museum should go?
What do you see as the museum’s vision?
[/blockquote]
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Please leave a comment below. Any comments posted will be forwarded to the Art Museum board.
Related Links:
Director of Art Museum Job Vacancy Announcement
Submit your application online to serve on the Art Museum or any City Board
Springfield Public Art
[...] What do you see as the Museum’s Vision? [...]
rubertstudios
Susan, did you hear Roger Shimomura’s talk at the Art Museum? It was great blend of personal experiences with racism and how that has impacted his art. I had sent emails to the MSU Diversity Department, a Drury University’s Asian Studies professor, the Kickapoo Japanese Club, and Sister Cities Association. But I’m sorry I didn’t think to email you. And sadly, I didn’t see any students in the audience.
I’ll try to write an article before the Shimomura show comes down in November, because there are a lot on online articles and a video interview that I can link to.
Thanks for all your suggestions about other great museums to visit in Missouri.
Karl
Choose a museum director who treats the staff, volunteers and public with respect and dignity, one who does not emotionally and verbally abuse the staff and others, and one who can relate favorably with all arts organizations, not just the visual.
Susan Brown
The museum should work toward increasing its ability to market itself to the community members. There are many wonderful events and opportunities that are currently going on that would be of interest to many people. I could kick myself for not promoting the artist talk to my students that occurred TODAY. I hold myself responsible for not checking, but I am an art teacher…I would hope a local museum would want to use me to encourage patrons to enter its doors.
There are many museums to model the new vision after. The Kemper museum in Kansas City and the Laumeier Sculpture garden in St. Louis have many programs that could be designed to fit our museum. The museum should be welcoming to its community, providing an experience that makes the unfamiliar more familiar.
I’ve also always thought that a museum café would help draw people in. My family and visited the Museum of Contemporary art in Chicago a couple of years ago and they have a wonderful program called Tuesday’s on the Terrace where food is available to patrons who are there to listen to local Jazz musicians perform. It was great to top off our visit to the museum with burgers and music.
What an exciting time for the museum. The possibilities are endless.
Michael
In response to the comments regarding the Art Museum’s website – I too would love to see a more up-to-date and informative site. Specifically, it would be great to have some sort of information regarding the permanent collection. Many large museums have their collections posted online which is a great resource, especially for our students. However, as everyone has failed to mention or perhaps failed to inquire, the Museum’s website is hosted by the City of Springfield and as such, is maintained and controlled by the City of Springfield IT department. The Museum has NO control over the graphics and usability of the site and extremely limited control over the content.
Everyone seems to forget that the Art Museum is a City department and as such, must also adhere to City policies and regulations.
In order to have a new and improved website – the Museum would have to get permission to host their own site outside of the City webpage, which would not only cost more money but also, a full-time graphic designer/IT person to keep the site running.
This would be wonderful – but people need to realize the time and money and stipulations involved here before so quickly criticizing things that they are not informed about.
Maybe do a little research before you jump to conclusions about why the Museum is doing what they are doing.
rubertstudios
Thanks for your comments Michael, but there are numerous examples of city departments that have their own websites such as the Airport which incorporates a blog and information about fine art exhibits at the airport, has links to Twitter, Facebook, and an email newsletter, the Parkboard website which has great depth about events and programs for people of all ages. These websites link directly from the city website.
The Police department website is a branch under the city’s domain, but has its own friendly look and feel and a large menu of options for citizens to get and report information relating to police matters. The Health department website is also sub-directory under the city website and has information about education, services, internships, employment, calendar of events, a YouTube channel, Facebook, and Twitter links.
There are always a variety of way to achieve goals, albeit a creative combination of staff talent, volunteer effort, hiring outside consultants, and soliciting pro bono work. Many website content development skills also relate to other essential tools for any public service entity such designing postcards, mailers, posters, newsletters, signage, writing press releases, and documenting events through photography and writing.
As E. Joseph Cossman has said, “Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.”
Heidi
I am so thankful Springfield has an art museum. I’m not sure our community realizes they have free access to this wonderful resource. I hope the next director can foster a sense of community involvement.
I agree with Suzanne and Sherri, connections with other art organizations is an important move in building community involvement.
I’d also like to see more exhibits and classes for children.
Suzanne
The choice of a new museum director is an important decision that the board needs to consider very carefully. It’s time to make the Springfield Art Museum a more welcoming place for ALL citizens of our community. Art is not just for the elite few who can understand or embrace it. The restrictive and oppressive atmosphere that has been pervasive for so many years makes visitors feel as if their very presence is somehow a nuisance. It’s time to open up the courtyard, uncover the skylights, and let some light and fresh air into this place. A step in the right direction would be in the choice of a museum director who could create new connections with other arts organizations, art educators, and our community to usher in a new, enlightened era.
Sherri
I am a local art teacher and artist, and I enthusiastically agree with the issues mentioned: providing more education programs, having an accessible and informative website, and consider collaborating with other community arts organizations for events such as art film festivals, critical art talks, or special arts performances.
I especially would like to see progress on a website, making sure shows that hang during the 5th grade yearly field trip are planned to be appropriate and interesting, and that students of all ages feel welcome and connected. I also think it would be a great idea for the museum to get involved with “Slow Art Day”, a nation-wide Art movement (www.slowartday.com).
I am excited for the future of the museum and it’s potential impact on the community!
pamdora
Thanks Jeanie, collecting so much information from the community and submitting it to the board. Also all your years of work on the Springfield Regional Arts Council.
Jenaie Morris
We are so fortunate to have an art museum board that wants pubic input! Thank you to our Art Museum Board members for caring and for your service.