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CCA Runs Out of Buck
CCA RenderingBuck's departure comes between renovation phases. At the Thursday, August 23rd preview reception
for the opening of CCA’s Muñoz Waxman Gallery, it was clear by the way
Executive Director Steve Buck was talking about having a lot of free time to
play golf, that persistent rumors about his imminent departure from the
organization were true. Indeed, the Center for Contemporary Arts issued a press
release on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 29, announcing Buck’s resignation.
“I am going to play a lot of golf, actually. I’m going to take some time off, retool a little bit, get my batteries charged up and, in a month or so, look around for another opportunity,” Buck says. It’s hard to gauge whether Buck’s lack of focus on his next move is due to an unhurried approach, or rumors that his resignation was requested by the board following a period of growing unrest around Buck’s leadership. Such rumors, however, remain unsubstantiated. For his part, Buck maintains that the split is amicable.
“Look, I’ve done what I can there,” he says. “The organization is in good shape financially, the board is in totally harmony, the staff is excited, and the path forward is very clear.” He adds that brief, aggressive tenures (he was at the helm of CCA for 3 years) have been a hallmark of his professional career. “I like to have opportunities where I can make a contribution and turn things around and improve whatever business I’m in. I’ve done start-ups and I’ve done turn-arounds. Now I’ve done a turn-around at a non-profit. Seeing as a multi-disciplinary arts platform is the mission, it’s now time for them to find someone with a background and a vision in the arts rather than in business.”
Sandy Thompson, development director for CCA since 2005, has been named acting executive director. Thompson declined to comment on rumors and, asked point blank if the board of directors had requested Buck’s resignation, says “It was his [Buck’s] choice to move on.”
Thompson says he took the role of acting director only under the stipulation that the organization would conduct a national search for a fitting and dynamic director in the near future. He was unable to specify when such a search would begin. Thompson agreed with Buck’s assessment that the organization was on track.
“The long-term strategy plan which was put in place in December of 2006 will be continued and reviewed annually. Many of our goals have been realized under Steve’s leadership and he gave incredible vision and a lot of energy in turning the institution around.”
As far as instituting any changes of his own, Thompson says he’s enthused about generating more input into the organization from various community stakeholders. “There are a lot of people who have interest and ties to the organization who aren’t on staff, who aren’t on the board, but have given a lot and have a lot to say,” Thompson says. “And I’m looking forward to bringing those voices into the organization.”
A informal survey of CCA staff members revealed high morale in the face of Buck’s departure. The independent departments, like the overall organization, have respective long-term strategies that won’t be significantly impacted by Thompson’s directorship or a prolonged search to fill the position.
“We are all grateful to Steve for his dedication and hard
work in turning around the organization,” says Visual Arts Director,
That chapter, Thompson says, will be making use of the fact that, “the stage is set for us to be a major and influential player in the contemporary arts of the region.” Asked if that isn’t already the case, he replies “I’m always going to use the term ‘we’re getting there,’ even if we arrive. I don’t want to develop a sense of complacency.”
Disclosure: Zane Fischer was executive director at CCA for two years in the late 1990s.
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agitate*contemplate
Comments
Last Active: September 4, 2007, 8:23 am
I think it's interesting that no one is touching this post with a ten foot cattle prod. although what is there to say about it really.
Last Active: December 25, 2007, 9:22 pm
You mean the allegations of missing money and drug abuse?
Hhhmmnn....Santa Fe has always been and will always be a hotbed of unsubstantiated rumors and casual allegations. It's natural for a forum to traffic in its fair share of rumors and such, and possibly even constructive on occasion. But, unless someone has substantive information with an actual bearing on the community, my hope would be that a postings such as this one could provide an opportunity for constructive commentary from the community that might even be helpful to the CCA board of directors when a search committee forms and begins to consider candidates to replace Steve Buck.
Consider the benefit all the way around if an organization's constituency is able to communicate some of the desired leadership traits it would like to see within that organization, through a considered, public conversation... this is some of the essential meat of disCOARSE: to effect positive change and movement through consideration and conversation of issues and ideas in the community.
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agitate*contemplate
Last Active: May 7, 2008, 6:51 pm
Very true Jennifer,
A very conspicuous lack of immediate comment. It is a holiday weekend afterall, Tuesday is bound to find the fog of change lifting and we can only hope a certain overbuilt conservative attitude lifts over there at CCA as well. Bucks parting wordspeak iis way too familiar in the USA today. Take all quotes above and interpret them 180 degrees opposed and something resembling a glimpse of the CCA story will emerge.
To anyone who has ever assisted in any way, shape or form, in the rearing of this angry stepchild born of this community, that we call CCA--- your stepchild needs you more than ever.
Last Active: September 4, 2007, 8:23 am
yes, Ring, I agree. The wordspeak you speak of is also known as spin--and yes, it is an epidemic in the culture at large. In this case, it's pretty thin spin.
However, I do have total faith that CCA will rise again like the phoenix, as it always does, even after this latest spate of drama and intrigue. And at this point they have a better foundation to build on than they ever have. So all in all things are looking up.
Probably bits and pieces of what everyone has heard are true, but having first-hand knowledge of how this stuff happens, I know that there is probably plenty of false or embellished information out there as well.
The thing that matters seems not to be why Steve left (although I love to gossip just as much as the next person so if you've heard anything good let me know ) but the reality that CCA is going to be handed over to (and my count may be a little low here) its 5th or 6th director in 10 years.
Is that something symptomatic of non profits and I shouldn't worry about that or is this constant flux at the top level a problem? It seems to me like it's very hard for an organization to remain focused amidst constant administrative change. True, CCA has a strong foundation right now and it seems like their financial situation gets better and better, but how will a new ED effect that?
I believe Thompson will be the fifth director in 10 years, technically, though it may be closer to 11. Also, that includes another interim director, Kirsten Gerdes. Probably 8 directors total in its history, including interims, and 7 of those in the last 12 years.
The new E.D. will certainly need to be a capable people person and ideally should be able to conceptually stand behind the programming better than Buck and to be able to articulate the importance of CCA's mission more cabably than Buck. However, the individual programs, i.e., visual arts, cinema, digital media, etc, are all in quite capable hands, with a good understanding of their focus and their strategic plans for the upcoming years. The new director needs to support and articulate that, lead the rally to evolve the long-term vision beyond what exists, raise the funds to manifest that vision and otherwise stay out of the way. My 2c.
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agitate*contemplate
Joined: 2007-05-02
Last Active: October 20, 2007, 1:25 pm