On Feb.14, 2021, urban planner Danicia Monet posted a link to an open letter on her Facebook page, with its primary demand that Newfields CEO and president Charles Venable step down from the position he had occupied at the museum since 2012. That he ultimately did step down was certainly a dramatic development, but it may also be part of a broader shift occurring in arts institutions across the country and around the world.
Monetâs letter quickly gained 2219 signatures.Â
Those who signed the letter insisted Venable step down because of a Newfields job posting that sought a museum director who would be responsible for attracting a âbroader and more diverse audience while maintaining the museumâs âtraditional, core, white audience.â The job posting was widely perceived as insensitive and racist and generated national attention inside and outside the museum community.
A shift at Newfields, and in museums around the world newsnirvana.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsnirvana.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.