Page 2 - Newfields Board News Today

Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette has been let go from her position as president and CEO of the prominent art institution Newfields.

Provided by Newfields A Newfields job posting in February included language that the ideal candidate "attract a more diverse audience, while maintaining the museum’s traditional, core white audience." That was met with public accusations of elitism and racism. Within days, Newfieldss president resigned and leadership publicly admitted errors and vowed to implement change. Then Darrianne Christian was elected as the new chair of the organizations board of trustees. She is the first Black woman...

The Times’ Sarah Bahr, who is based in Indianapolis. However, any attempts by the museum to explain by this point were in vain. A petition addressing “artists, cultural leaders, advocates, and allies against racism” began circulating on Feb. 14, calling for signatures. The petition stated that the wording of the job description “blatantly detailed the way in which systemic racism permeated” Indianapolis.  Among the demands of the petition —  just like the ope...

Words "traditional, core, white audience” at issue.

Feb 17, 2021 / 10:35 PM EST INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Newfields’ president has resigned after a controversial job listing that explained one of the job duties as “maintaining the Museum’s traditional, core, white art audience.” The boards of trustees and governors for the Indianapolis nature and arts museum said in an announcement that it accepted the resignation of Charles Venable on Wednesday morning. The most recent tax filing on the Newfields webpage shows Venable made more than $750,...