MoNA picks new interim director

At a smoothly run annual membership meeting, Joanna Sikes was announced as the Museum of Northwest Art’s interim director. Neither she nor Christopher Shainin, whose last day as executive director was Saturday, made formal remarks to the roughly 50 attendees.

A $200,000 five-year loan from the Seattle Foundation, negotiated in the last 10 days, and called “quite extraordinary,” was announced by Tom Bucknell, a trustee. Only interest payments will be paid until year six, when principal payments will be added.

He spoke on transition plans, summarizing the museum’s inability to meet its $600,000 fundraising goal or operate on a balanced budget in two sentences: “We tried to make changes. We did not succeed.” While he and other board members speaking stressed having no interest in playing a “blame game,” no one took responsibility or named any responsible parties for the dire fiscal straits the museum is in.

Bucknell named the challenge as finding a sustainable business model to put the museum on sound financial footings in the coming years and decades. Drastic cost cuttings have been made to programs, employees, jobs and dreams he said.

Bucknell announced the board’s decision to hire Sikes, saying the board listened to the community’s support for her hire.

The museum will also be tapping Susan Trapnell, a Seattle fundraising consultant. Trapnell was a long-time director of ACT Theater, saving it when it had significant financial problems. She had a lead role in raising some $20 million for Seattle’s Town Hall.

Certificates of appreciation were given to the 2017 board members who left the board. Most resigned, six en masse in December. David Hall, was recognized for his nine years on the board; he is term limited. Shainin was recognized by outgoing Board of Trustees President Gary Molyneaux for his five years of service and given a gift, a print by his childhood art teacher, Heidi Epstein. It is titled, appropriately, “It’s Complicated.”

Treasurer Michelle Hurteau presented the specifics of the museum’s financial plight: three years of operating at a net loss, including $278,000 in 2017. “It’s a miracle this organization still has its doors open,” she said. The museum will pay off the $41,000 it owes Skagit Bank and then end its line of credit there. Hurteau was optimistic, saying “It’s an exciting time to be a part of this organization. Let’s pull together to save this gem.” She will become board president, though that was not announced. Hurteau is a principal and chief operating officer with TRICO, a Burlington based construction company.

Molyneaux presided over the meeting.

The 2018 board slate was unanimously elected by the membership. Elected after their 2017 appointments were Hurteau, president, Tom Beckwith, Bucknell and Joanne Fredrich. Joining them are former board members C. J. Ebert and Loren Render and long term La Conner resident Catharine Wyman. Molyneaux’s term runs through 2019.