I really didn’t start this blog to write about local politics, but I’ve been in contact with some staff members at the Alameda National Center for Latino Arts and Culture, and some of the things they are telling me need to come out. Rumors have been swirling around the Alameda for months; director Ruth Medellin was apparently forced out back in June, shortly after Laura Esparza left. At lease one board member has been forced out. According to sources, management showed the door to many of Medellin’s friends within weeks of her departure. From what I understand, the entire staff had to reapply for their jobs, and many were let go. Now, this is the kind of thing that happens at nonprofits, and from the outside, it’s hard to tell whether the purge was actually good or bad for the organization.

However, if this string of firings and resignations was the result of a decision to clean up the Alameda, you wouldn’t expect to see Founding Chairman Henry Muñoz III use Alameda staff to set up his personal parties, or his Clinton fundraiser tonight. And you wouldn’t expect him to call Alameda staff in the middle of the night to clean up after these parties at his home. Surely this would be seen as an ethical lapse? I’m hearing from sources at the Alameda that this kind of behavior is typical. I’m hearing that Alameda maintenance staff are often sent to Muñoz’ house to make repairs or do landscaping.
One source, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, believes that the Museo Alameda itself is being “offered” for parties thrown by Muñoz’ business associates and potential donors. At these late night soirées, sometimes with hundreds of attendees, alcohol and food is served in the exhibit spaces. And of course, Alameda staff are pulled away from their jobs to set up and clean up the parties. I have not been able to confirm that these parties are thrown at no cost; if the space is being rented for a fair price, many of the ethical concerns over the use of the space vanish.

There are there are also worries about cronyism. Eliseo Rios was recently hired as the director of administration and is a member of the management committee which is charged with running the Alameda temporarily while also searching for Medellin’s replacement. Rios apparently has no experience or qualifications in the art world or the museum world (beyond his work at Alameda); until recently he worked at Cartel Creativo, which handles Latino-targeted advertising for Labatt. He majored in finance and marketing.

Now I think the Alameda is a great thing for San Antonio; I’ve seen some really good contemporary art shows there (e.g. Seis Who), and I think it has fantastic potential to develop a rich narrative or dialectic of Latino culture that embraces the historical and the contemporary. But those who have put in long hours trying to make the Alameda what it is are saddened to see its resources squandered for personal gain. In the wake of the Lawrence Small scandal, we should all be wary of this behavior. As one source says, “We are not Henry Muñoz III, and contrary to popular belief we are NOT HIS museum.”

At the very least the Alameda needs to conduct an internal investigation into Muñoz’ use of Alameda resources for private (non-fund raising) functions. The Alameda receives public funds as well, and this may be a situation in which the city needs to conduct its own investigation. I’d also like to see the Express-News and the Current dig deeper into this story. They have skirted around the issue, but I think we need to get to the heart of it and look at the actions of Henry Muñoz.

Please leave clarifications or any other information you want to share in comments.

15 Comments »