Regional Arts Commission Executive Director Was Apparently Told to Resign or Be Fired

Little is being said publicly about the reasons behind the departure of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis’ executive director Felicia W. Shaw, who stepped down last week after four years in her role.

A source with ties to the organization told STL County News that Shaw was given two options: Resign or be dismissed. Prior to her departure, there was concern about the unusually high turnover, with an exodus of at least 14 personnel who were dismissed or who resigned during Shaw’s tenure. Though the minutes from meetings show little in terms of concerns being voiced, the issue of staff departures came to a head under the leadership of new board chairman Monty Levy, who previously served as vice president of finance and administration at Grand Center, Inc., the organization that supports growth and development for the Grand Center Arts District.

Shaw attended Beaumont High School and spent four decades in California before returning to her hometown four years ago to take the helm of the RAC. Her return coincided with the aftermath of Ferguson, when the city was desperately trying to find its footing after the onslaught of negative global press. In earlier interviews, Shaw stated that the civil unrest caused by the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson played a role in her decision to come back home and make a difference. Her return to the city where she was born was publicly met with great enthusiasm by the organization’s leadership, with Shaw being interviewed for high-profile features in local media.

According to the source, the search committee’s top priority at the time was to fill the position with an African American, though that was not publicly stated. Shaw had been a leader in arts administration for more than 25 years, though this would be the first time she would serve at the top of an organization, particularly one that operated as a political subdivision, with different rules of distributing funds garnered as tax dollars, while serving as the largest annual funder of nonprofit arts in the region.

The Source told STL County News that Shaw came in with a plan to overhaul the organization into the future, with little consideration for the way the institution was previously run, and that did not sit well with other key personnel and commissioners. According to the source, Shaw did not want help or advice from prior leadership, and in the process aligned herself with many African American groups and causes. Her strategic plan included cutting funding for many groups who had been recipients for a number of years, sending a shock wave in the nonprofit arts sector.

In an article in STL County News‘ sister publication, Gazelle magazine, Shaw talked about the fact that shaking things up at the RAC to create a new vision meant making hard, unpopular choices.

“Too many people don’t participate in the arts, in part, because we’ve been tied to old allegiances and protocols,” Shaw said. “RAC receives public money, so we owe it to the community to create access to the arts for everyone, and to reward excellence. Hard choices mean that St. Louis’ very best – from major institutions to grassroots organizations – will thrive now and into the future.”

The source said, “I don’t think she had a problem because she was African American. I think she had a problem because she only aligned with African American groups.”

The RAC said it hopes to name a new executive director within six to nine months. In the meantime, Celia L. Hosler will lead the organization as interim executive director. Hosler has spent her career in the nonprofit sector, including serving as COO and CFO at COCA, and consulting with numerous local arts organizations.

Sherry Sissac will continue to serve as deputy director, overseeing organizational planning and development. Erika Fiola, director of strategic initiatives, will oversee grants during this interim period.

“The team at the Regional Arts Commission has made an incredible difference in the St. Louis area over the past three decades, and we will continue that impact during this transition,” Levy said in a news release distributed at the time of Shaw’s departure. “We have a great, dedicated team in place today, and they will remain focused on their work in the arts community.”