The Argus Leader , FINALLY printed my letter to the editor about Arts Night. I want everyone to know that I have been contacted by several artists since the first letter I wrote in support of my dissent. It’s time that artists in our community start asking for accountability for their tax dollars that are being spent on public art and organizations. If they don’t want to be accountable, it’s time to close the purse.

Arts groups should be honest
By Scott L. Ehrisman
Published: May 31, 2007 – Argus Leader

In Paul Schiller’s recent letter about Arts Night, he failed to tell readers a few important details. Like how he represents both SculptureWalk and the Washington Pavilion as either a present or past board member, a juror or a financial contributor. In fact, the company he founded, Lawrence & Schiller, was a major sponsor of Arts Night this year.

Schiller states, “When an artist submits work, … you do so knowing that it’s a credible organization that has a fair and qualified selection process. That is the case with both the Washington Pavilion’s Arts Night and our ever-popular SculptureWalk.” How does he know? Is Schiller a juror for Arts Night? If he was on the jury, how did the jurying process maintain impartiality since his piece was one of the “selected” ones? Is that his definition of fair?

Last year was the first time in Arts Night history the Washington Pavilion decided to jury donations. This year wasn’t the first time I made a little noise about the process. I told the group last year that I thought it was unfair to jury donations it solicits.

Schiller is correct. Donations are voluntary, but the Washington Pavilion solicits those donations through the mail. It would be like signing up to volunteer to work at the Banquet, and when you show up to work your shift, you’re told to go home.

Was rejecting my donation this year repercussions for my dissent last year?

SculptureWalk and the Washington Pavilion receive public subsidies and use public property. I think SculptureWalk and the Washington Pavilion should continue to receive this assistance because, as I have said before, a free visual arts center in our community is very important. But with that assistance should come transparency and accountability to the public.

Schiller posing as the gatekeeper of secrecy for these organizations doesn’t help their credibility, even if he doesn’t care about his own. They should be honest about their operations and processes. That’s how organizations like the Washington Pavilion and SculptureWalk build credibility. Honesty and integrity will never backfire on you.

SculptureWalk made the wise decision this year to release the names of jurors for the first time in its history. I think the Washington Pavilion Arts Night committee also should release the names of its jurors out of respect for the artists who were rejected and accepted. The argument that artists will retaliate against it is hogwash. That assumption is an insult.

Schiller has a very skewed view of publicly funded art organizations – and that’s no secret.