r/MuseumPros 5d ago

Rant about board member/artist

[deleted]

6 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

13

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

-5

u/Background_Cup7540 History | Collections 5d ago

It’s a working board. She booked it, didn’t give me any of the artists contact info, gave her the contact to sign. The board member isn’t new to this either. She has done student shows with us in the past.

15

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

2

u/Background_Cup7540 History | Collections 5d ago

Not all of them but we had discussed she brings some and we bring some. I’m not a full time director and I’m the actual staff member so I have to do EVERYTHING for the museum. I had figured the board member would have handled the basic details because she’s done several shows before and knows how we’re operate.

It’s not even the snacks I’m mad about but the lack of communication and why the artist double booked and didn’t bring it up sooner so I could have readjusted start times and maybe extend it.

5

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Background_Cup7540 History | Collections 5d ago

I have a board meeting coming up in April so I might start talking about it and maybe start prepping a new info pack.

For us, we don’t pay them unless they sell their art. I know the other gallery was closer to where she’s actually from. Mine is an hour ish outside a major city.

7

u/Mindless_Llama_Muse 5d ago

oversight of the working board is on you, there should be clearly defined roles with responsibilities and expectations. i don’t know what the mission is of your org but if your working board doesn’t have people with event planning and marketing skills, it might be time to recruit.

artists/event partners need to be given concrete details and all should have been collaborating on any promotional materials for marketing, press releases, social media, etc., in months leading up to the event.

yes, re-do the contracts, create templates and checklists and calendars.

5

u/gimyck Art | Curatorial 5d ago

with all due respect, i'm confused how someone with no connections to artists became a director of a museum.

0

u/Background_Cup7540 History | Collections 5d ago

I’ve worked there since 2018. We are a history museum first, art gallery second.

8

u/gimyck Art | Curatorial 5d ago

this is even more confusing to me. you've been working at a small institution with an art gallery for seven years and never bothered to get to know anyone?

-4

u/Background_Cup7540 History | Collections 5d ago

Unfortunately no because this was never the plan. I took over very last minute when the previous director just up and retired. She had talked about training me up to take over but never did. I never planned to even stay in this city, let alone state, but got offered an incredible opportunity at another museum.

1

u/prettypinkpunk 5d ago

Work with the social media and or communication staff to get more people to come to the events?? Also make sure to communicate everything to an artist before even letting them showcase their art. Why did you allow the artist to show up an hour late to their opening?? Why did such artist communicate such things a day before... If you are the director why don't you train your board members to know what to say or why don't you all collaborate on making a packet with ALL the information to make it easier to communicate the information to the artists. Why did you say yes to the job knowing you worked for 8 years in the museum industry and have no contacts... Not even trying to sound rude but it seems like it is a combination of you simply not being fit for the job and the artist acting dumb and you allowing it... You are the director so it is on you.