http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-maitland-sunshine-law-violation-20140916-story.html (Sept. 16, 2014)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange/os-maitland-arts-funding-sunshine-probe-20140929-story.html (Sept. 29, 2014)
51 Year Lease awarded to Art & History Association.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-14/news/os-maitland-art-center-lease-20120914_1_lease-art-association-art-history-museums (Sept. 14, 2012)
Update July 9th/Lease issue: One would think a 51 year lease would add stability to the center and be a good thing, but after the spectacle presented by the head of the A&H Executive Committee at the City Council meeting on July 9th, that notion doesn't seem particularly true now. The threat to take most of the artwork and funds within the Art Center and go home if demands for a long-term lease weren't met was disturbing enough to shake confidence in the judgement of the association. However, the vitriol directed to certain members of the Council was shocking to witness and brought home the point that this organization has some major dysfunctional problems. Despite the marvelous kudos heaped repeatedly upon the association during the meeting by paid employees, as well as the mayor, cracks in the veneer were more than evident and call into question whether this association has the capacity to safeguard the Maitland Art Center properly.
Bill Orr, the only reason we still have the art center standing within our midst, sat through the more than five excruciating hours of the meeting and finally got to make his point that, given the dysfunction and non-transparency issues evident with this board, the collection needs to be under control of the city in order to safeguard it. His suggestion was met by a joke from the Mayor stating "How do you know I won't steal it?" It wasn't too humorous at that point since Bill made it known that a large quantity of artwork had been stolen in the past. It's also common knowledge that a portion of it was recovered and paid for by the association running the center at the time.
The council eventually voted to extend the lease for one more year to see if A&H can work out the issues that bother some of the council members (and should bother the public.) This is probably the best solution at this point. Here's a link to a piece in the Observer. And here's an email from A&H regarding the issue:
THANK YOU!
Last
night, we could not have been more proud of the supporters, donors,
members, volunteers, staff, and board of the Art & History Museums –
Maitland. We extend our gratitude to the Central Florida Community, and
especially to those who contacted Council and came to Monday’s Council
meeting to speak in our favor. City Council voted to extend the
introductory period on the A&H lease by one year, so that on October
1, 2013, the A&H lease should renew to 51 years. Although the
A&H hoped the lease would roll into the 51 year lease this year so
that the organization would be eligible for additional grant funding, we
are deeply appreciative of the support shown by the public and the
Maitland City Council. We wanted to share a quote with you that was made last night by Juliana M. Steele, Vice President of Administration and CFO of United Arts of Central Florida:
“We encourage you to see that the community treasure that you have in the Center is a treasure because of the nonprofit that has been its steward, not just the bricks and mortar that houses it.”
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Despite the association's assessment, and the frequent talking points along the same line brought up by a number of people in the audience, it is about the bricks and mortar and buildings as well as the people. We wouldn't be having this argument for the future of Maitland Art Center (and the Association entrusted to safeguard it) if the buildings had been bulldozed to the ground decades before. People in the past have saved the Maitland Art Center from this fate (and we have to thank Bill Orr and Maury Hurt's efforts in the 1960s for that.) If the Art & History Association wants a 51 year lease, they need to make clear to the public that they have a vision and plan to protect the Maitland Art Center for future generations.
7/5/12--An interesting development has occurred with the latest news that there is an agenda item on the next City council meeting (July 9th, 6:30 p.m.) calling into question the need for a lease with the Art and History Association. The Association has sent out an email to their members stating that if they are not renewed they will take most of the artwork residing at Maitland Art Center. Attached is the email from A&H:
Termination of Maitland Art Center & Historical Museums lease on Monday's City Council Agenda
Act NOW
|
Act NOW to ensure Art & History programming continues.
The Art & History Museums - Maitland needs your help! The City of Maitland's Vice Mayor Bonus has placed a decision item on Monday night's Council meeting agenda to terminate the A&H lease. That means that the vast majority of the art and artifacts collection would leave the Maitland Art Center, Waterhouse Residence Museum, Carpentry Shop Museum, and Telephone Museum. The programs that you have come to know and love would stop, and the over $2 million in assets that fund the mission to preserve, exhibit, and educate would leave the campuses with the A&H. Please act now to ensure that forty years of serving the community through a public private partnership does not come to an end on Monday. Please Email and call Maitland City Council today. Most importantly, please come to the Council meeting Monday night at 6:30 p.m. to show your support and tell Vice Mayor Bonus that you care about this organization and its mission. Mayor Howard Schieferdecker: hschieferdecker@itsmymaitland.com Vice Mayor Phil Bonus: pbonus@itsmymaitland.com Councilman Ivan Valdes: ivaldes@itsmymaitland.com Councilwoman Linda Frosch: lfrosch@itsmymaitland.com Councilwoman Bev Reponen: breponen@itsmymaitland.com City Council Phone Number: 407-539-6250 (main switchboard – please leave them a message) |
--The City of Maitland has had a couple of "workshops" to address the status and operation of the Maitland Art Center. There has been a lot of turmoil there since the merger with the history association and now the long-time curator and expert on Andre Smith and the collection, Richard Colvin, is gone. It's sad to see such chaos and lack of vision in this beautiful art institution over the last few years.
We requested that the City provide minutes to the April 10th workshop, but are still awaiting them. I did stumble upon this blog with hand-drawn notes and comments which will have to suffice for the minutes the city is not providing.
--The latest information from the Winter Park/Maitland Observer about the last workshop on April 10th indicates that the management of MAC is not going for an extended lease (51 years). Andrea Cox, director of A&H, stated that the "Observer" retracted the statement about the two year term of the lease (no link was provided). She said the association is in fact going after a 50 year lease.
"Cutting back on city funding by 10 percent in 2013...and going on a fast track to financial independence 10 years sooner than agreed upon a year ago" is worrisome as well given the critical need for restoration at the center. A&H President Bill Taulbee's comment that “We’re basically ready to commit [hara-kiri] here” doesn't bode well for a reasoned approach to safeguarding MAC. The board needs to address how they plan on properly restoring and maintaining the site with these planned funding cuts.
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News links:
7/12/12: WP/Maitland Observer piece on Lease extension
Info re. April 10th workshop
Info re. March 13th workshop