Not too long after Daniel Stetson’s departure as director, Sid Mallory,
formerly of Longview, was hired as the museum’s first Chief Executive Officer.
The position was created as part of an unusual and innovative management
strategy for AMOA. In most museums, directors oversee administrative and
curatorial responsibilities (with the help of senior or assistant curators),
report directly to the board, and assume a great deal of responsibility for
raising money. Having a CEO at AMOA frees the director to function as a
“curator with muscle,” to create an aesthetic vision for the museum within the
multicultural framework that the board has set for it. Just as importantly, it
allows the museum to focus administrative and development responsibilities in
its own position.
A successful development strategy is crucial to any museum’s future plans.
With its expansion into 823 Congress galleries, AMOA has more than doubled its
annual budget, from $1.3 million to $2.01 million. Mallory, a former healthcare
industry fundraiser, has secured the money to finish out the new space and
seems optimistic about finding additional funds to keep the doors open and the
programs ongoing during the five-year lease period. The Saturday night opening
of 823 Congress ($100 per person — tickets still available), an “Art Ball” at
the Four Seasons Hotel on February 1, proceeds from the museum gift shop when
it moves from its Sixth Street satellite location to 823 Congress, and other
sources will help fill the gap.
Soon — presumably within the next year — Mallory will also begin raising
endowment funds in anticipation of building the long-dreamt-of permanent
downtown museum. But before Mallory can complete plans for establishing an
endowment, the museum must finish a feasibility study that will project future
operating costs for the new building. (At present, the study is 70% complete).
Simultaneously, the city must finalize its contract with Robert Venturi, giving
the architect the go-ahead to update the design and cost of the proposed
museum. According to its agreement with the city, if the museum does not begin
construction by the end of the year 2000, it will lose the opportunity to build
on land that it previously donated to the city for that purpose. — R.S.C.
This article appears in November 15 • 1996 and November 15 • 1996 (Cover).