Subway Arts Commission Calls Special Meeting to Discuss Staff Allegations | Pith in the wind

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Caroline Vincent, director of the Metro Arts Commission

Photo: Eric England

Metro Arts Commission Chairman Jim Schmidt has called a special meeting to discuss complaints from staff members alleging that department leadership fosters a toxic work environment that relies heavily on intimidation, fear and punishment. The Scene reported in August that workers claimed director Caroline Vincent toned down people of color and subjected them to disproportionate scrutiny. The Metro Arts Commission is the volunteer body responsible for hiring and evaluating Vincent. The reunion follows Vincent’s announcement to staff that she is taking “doctor-recommended medical leave for at least two months”.

The commission meeting will be held at noon on Thursday, February 3 at the Metro Southeast Building (1417 Murfreesboro Pike) in the Green Hills Auditorium. The public can submit comments by emailing [email protected].

District 32 council member Joy Styles called a press conference Thursday on the steps of the Subway Courthouse to stand with staff and express concern about the allegations. In her speech, Styles called on executive director Vincent to step down or be fired. At-Large Board Member Zulfat Suara attended and called on the city to conduct an independent investigation into HR practices in Metro.

Styles herself was embroiled in the controversy last week, when Metro Arts’ head of strategic funding and initiatives, Janine Christiano, filed a complaint with Metro human resources that included the board member’s name. Christiano alleges that she and Vincent discussed an application by Styles for a funding opportunity that included an apparent conflict of interest on the part of the lead artist. According to Christiano, Vincent said, “Is it part of black culture not to follow the rules?” Vincent denies this accusation.

Christiano, who is Asian American, also alleged that she was subjected to coercion from senior management to harm other people of color, retaliation for acting as an ally of others people of color on staff, tokenism, exclusion, microaggressions and false accusations. The complaint came a week after Metro HR concluded an investigation into complaints made against the agency by former staffers Cecilia Olusola Tribble and Lauren Fitzgerald. Metro HR found “no violations by management of rules, policies or laws”. Tribble and Fitzgerald each submitted public comments to the Metro Arts Commission.

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