The questions continue to swirl in the days that follow the sudden departure of New fields President and CEO Colette Pierce Burnette.
A press release sent Friday evening noted only: “Dr. Burnette will be leaving Newfields as president and CEO.” » It was not clear whether she resigned or was removed from office.
The museum did not respond to a request made Tuesday for more information about the circumstances surrounding Burnette’s departure.
Michael Kubacki, president of Lake City Bank and former Newfields board member, has been named interim CEO.
The loss appears poised to plunge Newfields, home to the city’s largest art museum, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, back into familiar controversy.
From March 2022:One year into the Newfields Action Plan: Where are the CEO searches, neighborhood agenda and more?
Newfields hired Burnette following controversy and accusations of racism
In 2021, Newfields has been rocked by a series of accusations of racismincluding a job posting that sought a director to “attract a broader and more diverse audience while retaining the Museum’s traditional, core white art audience.”
The publication and other incidents led to a huge public outcry of the arts community and the greater Indianapolis area. Former Newfields CEO Charles Venable has finally resigned.
Burnette was hired last year after an extensive search following Venable’s resignation. She was the first black woman to hold this position, according to the museum.
As part of its commitment to diversifying its leadership, Newfields has also appointed Darrianne Christian to the role of the first black woman to chair its board of directors. Belinda Tate, also a black woman, was hired as museum director last month.
From 2022:Colette Pierce Burnette, new CEO of Newfields, talks about her plans, the director search and more
Indy Arts Council calls for transparency
Julie Goodman, president and CEO of the Indy Arts Council, addressed the departure in a Facebook post following the museum’s announcement.
“(Burnette) made more progress early in his tenure than many make in an entire career,” Goodman wrote. “I don’t understand at all and I’m going to ask a lot of questions.”
Goodman served on the search committee that ultimately recommended Burnette.
“Newfields has loudly stated its commitment to ‘building a stronger relationship with the people of Indianapolis,'” Goodman wrote. “Our residents responded in good faith and are once again faced with insensitive and cold communication that fuels a cycle of trauma and harm, particularly for members of our Black and Brown communities. We demand more information based on the positive impact Dr. Burnette has had.
The Arts Council administers a grant program funded by the City of Indianapolis to various local arts institutions, including $75,000 to Newfields in 2022. The city’s Department of Public Works is also listed as a donor between $250,000 and $499,000 on Newfields Annual Report 2021-22.
IndyStar attempted to contact several artists who wrote a letter calling for significant change at Newfields following Venable’s statements, but none responded.
Eighteen Art Collective, the local creators of “We. Culture” the exhibition at Newfields which delves into issues of racial justice, provided no comment at the time of publication.
Newfields’ abrupt change in leadership comes just weeks after the announcement of the museum’s sponsorship and partnership with the 2024 Indiana State Fair. The theme of next year’s fair will be “Art and the Nature of Pleasure.”
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Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and rappleton@indystar.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RoryEHAppleton.