Metro Arts - Caroline Vincent Resignation

(This letter was emailed to the entire Metro Arts Commission, the Mayor’s Office, and several Metro Council Members on Sept. 2, 2021)

Dear Metro Arts Chair Schmidt, CARE Co-Chairs Cheek and Roberts, and Metro Arts Commissioners,

My name is Alan Fey and I am emailing to ask you to publicly call for the immediate resignation of Caroline Vincent, Executive Director of Metro Arts, based on the recent reporting (linked here) from Erica Ciccarone and the Nashville Scene on the toxic and racist work environment that she has led.

I am emailing you as a "freelance arts administrator." I am representing myself, someone who works in the arts community in Nashville, and someone whose livelihood is actually subsidized in no small part by Core Operating Grants awarded by the Metro Arts Commission (so you can understand my hesitation to even hit send). While I recognize that I am always representing my employers (ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, Make Music Nashville), it is important to delineate that these opinions are my own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of these organizations, their Boards, their Musicians, their staff and volunteers, etc.

I have worked directly and/or indirectly with three of the former staffers (Fisher, Fitzgerald, Tribble) referenced in this article. These are individuals who cared (and continue to care) deeply about the arts ecosystem in Nashville, especially in regards to providing arts opportunities for communities who may be on the outskirts of "traditional" arts programming. I had heard rumors that they had left due to an unhealthy environment, but I had no idea the depth of racist attitudes and power dynamics at play. I am hopeful that they have been able to find meaningful work in the arts since then, but it is a tragedy that they are no longer able to serve the Nashville Arts Community in the same way - it is truly our loss.

I have also worked directly with Ms. Vincent through the White Arts Administrators Anti-Racist Accountability Group, a local group (co-led by Metro Arts and the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville) that meets monthly to discuss ways that we can support our colleagues of color, ways to name and stop racism within our own organizations, suggest better practices, unlearn the colonialist and white supremacist standards that are embedded on our society and in the Arts. For me personally, all of that work now comes into question - what was it actually for? Did Ms. Vincent actually care about the arts community progressing? How could she actually be in these discussions when she didn't enact them in her own arts organization?

I recently applied for the REAL (Racial Equity in Arts Leadership) course which has been restarted thanks to a Federal NEA grant. In my application, I informed them that my in-person availability was questionable this fall and that - should it be offered again next year - they should give my seat to someone who can commit to 100% of the classes. I am now concerned that these allegations will throw the current and any future offerings of the REAL course into jeopardy. All because of the toxic and racist management from the Metro Arts Executive Director.

The Nashville Arts community and all the citizens of Nashville deserve better.

I ask you to publicly call for Caroline Vincent's immediate resignation and for the Metro Arts Commissioners to create a community-led committee made up of more than 50% women of color to find her replacement.

Sincerely,
Alan