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Graham W. J. Beal

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Director of the Detroit Institute of Arts

Graham W. J. Beal was the Director, President and CEO of the Detroit Institute of Arts, from 1999 to 2015.

Background

Beal was born in Stratford-on-Avon, England. He has degrees in English and Art History from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute of Art.

Early career

Prior to his tenure at the DIA, he was director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from 1996 to 1999. He was director of the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1989 to 1996 and served as chief curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art from 1984 to 1989.

Detroit Institute of Arts

Beal was hired in 1999 as the Director and President of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). During his early days, Beal was embroiled in several controversies over the suppression of contemporary exhibitions, despite his identification as an advocate of contemporary art. The first example of this was in 1999, when Beal shut down an exhibit Jef Bourgeau had been invited to create. Beal called Bourgeau to his office, while museum staffers acting under Beal's orders padlocked the exhibit.

In 2012, the board of directors increased Beal's salary from $455,453 to $514,000 annually. The same year the DIA asked voters in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties to approve an increase on their property taxes to help the DIA solve its financial problems and keep its doors open. Beal also received a $50,000 bonus in 2012 plus another 50,000 in 2013.

Initially, the raises and loans were not made public. In 2014, the DIA filed tax returns for 2012 which disclosed Beal's raise and bonus. The disclosure caused much anger among Wayne, Macomb and Oakland County taxpayers. "The public rallied around the DIA, and this is the thanks they got?" Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson asked. Oakland County Commissioners threatened to stop Oakland County's participation in the DIA millage. On November 5, 2014, the DIA board repaid the museum for Beal's 2013 bonus with the board chairman Eugene Gargaro apologizing for "mistakes which we regret".

On January 8, 2015, Beal announced he was stepping down on June 30. Two months later, Beal's pay continues to generate negative headlines for the DIA. Oakland County officials continue to be at the forefront of opposition to a retroactive raise for Beal. Lawmakers want to make the DIA subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

References

  1. "Graham Beal : Biography". Dia.org. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ^ Dobrzynski, Judith H. (1 August 2012). "Where There's a Mill, There's a Way". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  3. "Dia censors". detroitmona.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  4. Detroit News: ‘Museum’s new director cancels exhibit’ by Joy Hakanson Colby, November 20, 1999.
  5. Chicago Sun-Times: ‘A matter of art’ by staff, November 23, 1999.
  6. The Independent (London): ‘Artist stages protest’ by John Davison, November 23, 1999.
  7. USA TODAY: ‘Culture Clash’ by staff, November 23, 1999 front page.
  8. New York Times: ‘Another Art Battle, as Detroit Museum Closes an Exhibit Early’ by Robyn Meredith, November 23, 1999.
  9. Il Mattino (Naples): ‘Scandalo a Detroit’ by staff, November 24, 1999.
  10. Le Monde (Paris): ‘Un directeur de musee americain reporte une exposition par crainte de la polemique’ by staff, November 24, 1999.
  11. 'Boston Globe: ‘Detroit museum defends shutting down exhibit’ by staff, November 24, 1999.
  12. Jerry Peterson, 'Jef until now' Zenith Index of Public Record, Issue #6.
  13. "DIA board chairman meets with Commission, hears communities' concerns over executives' past raises". Theoaklandpress.com. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  14. ^ Jennifer Chambers, "DIA board pays back $90K for execs' 2013 bonuses" The Detroit News November 6, 2014 http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/metro-detroit/2014/11/06/dia-bonuses/18628437/
  15. Jack Lessenberry, "Pay raises for DIA’s top brass called into question " Metro Times 10/15/2014 URL http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/politics-and-prejudices-pay-raises-for-dias-top-brass-called-into-question/Content?oid=2259600
  16. Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press (22 October 2014). "DIA executive pay raises prompt Oakland County leaders to seek change". Freep.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  17. Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit News (23 October 2014). "Oakland Co. officials demand DIA return bonuses". Detroitnews.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  18. Laitner, Bill (19 November 2014). "Macomb officials want rollbacks to DIA execs' raises". Detroit Free Press. Detroit. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  19. Chambers, Jennifer (19 November 2014). "Macomb County officials to debate DIA executive pay". Detroit News. Detroit. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  20. "Graham Beal's plans after DIA retirement up in air".
  21. Detroit Free Press: 'Some Oakland County officials protest DIA raises' by L.L. Brasier and Mark Stryker, August 27, 2015.
  22. Michigan Radio: 'Amid criticism over bonuses and pay hikes, DIA is searching for new director' Sep. 1, 2015.
  23. mlive: 'Hefty bonuses for top Detroit Institute of Arts execs draw criticism' by Gus Burns.
  24. Oakland Press: 'Macomb, Oakland lawmakers want DIA to be subject to Open Meetings, FOI acts' by Mitch Hotts. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20150827/macomb-oakland-lawmakers-want-dia-to-be-subject-to-open-meetings-foi-acts Archived 29 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
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