A member of the Elmhurst Art Museum’s executive board has resigned to protest a decision by the museum, the Park District and the Elmhurst Artists Guild to expand the museum board without granting more representation to the guild and the district.
“The recent decision to amend original agreements and let the museum increase its board with nine new directorships is not in the best interest of the guild,” said Evelyn Ecale Schulz. “It is at the board table where discussion takes place and policy is made.”
The museum’s charter calls for a nine-member board including: one representative of the Park District because the museum stands on district-owned land in Wilder Park and hosts some Park District programs; one from the library because the library is also in Wilder Park; and two from the guild, which started a 40-year fundraising campaign to found the museum.
The museum board cannot add directors without approval of the Park Board, Library Board and Artists Guild until the charter expires in July 2001.
Last year, Neil Bremer, executive director of the museum, petitioned the other governing bodies to let the museum add nine new directorships to help raise funds and increase the museum’s regional appeal. While the Library Board agreed, the Park District and the Artists Guild refused unless the number of representatives they could put on the board also doubled.
Schulz, who was then president of the guild, adamantly opposed the proposal. Last month, the guild’s board voted 5-4 to give the museum permission to add new directors without increased representation Guild president Judy Sullivan broke a 4-4 tie to pass the motion. The Park District board then approved the plan in a 4-2 vote.