Note: A correction was made on Oct. 9. A previous version of this story misidentified the title of a Mirror Indy reader named Anne Young. The Anne Young featured in this story has no affiliation with Newfields.
When Le Monte G. Booker Sr. starts his new role as CEO at Newfields this month, he’ll be tasked with rebuilding trust with the community.
“If they can get their local relationships right, they can get right,” Julie Goodman, who recently resigned as Indy Arts Council CEO to take a fundraising position with the Cabaret, told Mirror Indy in August. “Anything else is building on a faulty foundation.”
Booker’s new role was announced in August. The former chief financial officer of Chicago’s Field Museum succeeds Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, who abruptly resigned from Newfields last November.
In the spirit of new beginnings, we asked local community members what’s on their wishlist for Booker, as Indianapolis welcomes him to his new, high-profile role.
“I would hope the community would give him a chance and opportunity to build something different than there was before,” Storm said. “I don’t know what ‘different’ is, but he deserves a chance. The angst and anger about what happened before shouldn’t automatically get transported to him.”
— LaShawnda Crowe Storm, artist
“Bring back learning to Newfields — not just sparkly lights and beer gardens. How about free or inexpensive talks by diverse artists, designers and culture bearers across the country?”
— Anne Laker, writer
“Please lower admission prices.”
— Monica Muñoz, executive director of Kids Dance Outreach
“Newfields does a pretty good job, in my opinion, of creating kid-friendly areas, I would just ask for them to update the areas. I’d also love to see more discounted or free teacher workshops and admission days.”
— Ellery Diaz, art teacher at International School
“Kids seem to gravitate toward all corners of the museum, which speaks to the variation of appealing art offered at Newfields. There are a lot of interactive spaces in the museum, but I do wish there were more guided interactive activities – especially for the younger kids who need their chaperones to be more hands-on.
— Viktoria Tomanov, writing instructor for Butler University creative writing camp
“I have found that these interactive spaces are not often utilized because students don’t necessarily know how to start a craft/activity.”
“I would like the new CEO to encourage kids to explore and experience art on their own. For educators, I think it would be nice to invite them and their students to participate in special days, events, etc. Having a more open connection for the sake of community would be great!”
— Lincoln El-Amin, writing instructor for Butler University creative writing camp
Eduardo Luna, founder of Arte Mexicano en Indiana, would like Newfields to create a community ambassador program, similar to Central Indiana Community Foundation’s program. Each year, CICF partners with six ambassadors from “underappreciated neighborhoods,” and their input influences the grantmaking process and leadership decisions.
“Relationships are built on time, and we have to, as a community, be willing to communicate with the museum, and the museum has to be willing to communicate,” Luna said. “It has to be a constant thing, maybe even a scheduled thing, and it has to be mutual.”
Luna advocated for town halls to allow Newfields an opportunity to share updates and changes.
“Please restore ‘Perennial Premiere.’ That Saturday in April was a highlight for plant lovers near and far. Very little attention is currently focused on the greenhouse. Obviously the grounds are a horticultural wonderland, but you can’t exactly take it home for your yard.”
— AnneYoung, Mirror Indy reader
“The only thing I would say is that I hope he can take the time to realize what a special place this is and what potential it has and to help it realize its full potential.”
— Ron Kern, photographer and Newfields member
“One thing that I enjoyed about Dr. Burnette’s leadership was how effective she was at reaching local artists and bringing in these local artists with their own community following into Newfields. I enjoyed seeing artists from my neighborhood, Haughville, in Newfields and would like to keep seeing local artists in the space.”
— Stephen Lane, education librarian at IU Indianapolis’ University Library; director of Indianapolis Liberation Center’s Fonseca-Du Bois Gallery
“Overall, fostering an environment that feels welcoming and relevant to everyone in Indianapolis should be a key goal. A priority could be expanding outreach to underrepresented groups and creating programming that reflects the diverse cultures in our city.”
— Billy Rios, artist
“I would love to see people like me going to the museum and being represented … collaborate with schools, so that art students can see more of the behind-the-scenes, work with museums or create new art within the community.”
— Sheila Clemente-Zoto, student at Herron School of Art and Design
Here are some responses we got from Mirror Indy readers on Instagram:
“Would love to see more Latino art in the museum – local artists as well as guest artists from all over but specifically Puerto Rico.”
— Mirvia Eckert, artist
“Have a permanent ‘local’ exhibition section of rotating art. Maybe segments of ‘aspiring,’ ‘established,’ in different mediums of art.”
— Raymond Gray, artist
“I hope whomever is in the lucky position of being the steward of an amazing art collection cares about the art and keeping it on display for all to take in and love. Yes, I’ll keep saying I’m p**sed off about the ‘Lume Scam’ … the removal of so much art to put that in was a travesty.”
— Brent Lehker, curator at Storage Space Gallery
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