What’s going on with the Art Museum? This is a question that many Philadelphians have been asking lately. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a landmark cultural center and an iconic institution in Philadelphia’s history. The museum is the city’s center stage for events like the Thanksgiving Day and Eagles parades, and the Philadelphia Marathon. It is the home of the Rocky Statue, Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting, and a place just about every kid growing up in Philly has been to on a field trip. Underneath all the Philly pride, it is also the home to a lot of controversy, which is now being aired out due to a recent lawsuit.
Three years into her five year contract, Sasha Suda was abruptly fired from her position as CEO and Director of the museum. In response, Suda has sued the museum, claiming she was fired “without a valid basis.” (NYT). The museum countersued and claims that Suda “misappropriated funds from the Museum and lied to cover up her theft”(Artforum). This “she said, they said” lawsuit reads like a soap opera.
The lawsuit reveals that Suda and the Board never got along well and that tension existed from the start of her tenure. When Suda was hired, it was a very volatile time for the museum. There was an active strike by the PMA Union in hopes of higher pay. The museum was still experiencing the backlash of a previous scandal when an executive was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct. To say the least, Suda had to take on a lot…