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Interim Metro Arts executive director Paulette Coleman tendered her resignation on Saturday after less than a year leading the department.
Email alleges ‘the work that Metro Arts is finalizing right now could have and should have been completed months ago’
Coleman was named interim director in April following a botched fiscal year 2024 grants cycle that left artists and arts organizations with little faith in the department’s ability to distribute funds in a timely manner. The situation resulted in a conciliation agreement between the Metro Arts Commission, Nashville artists and other Metro departments to improve the grants process for future years. Coleman was tasked with overseeing the department through that rebuilding phase.
However, according to emails and letters obtained by the Nashville Banner, Coleman was failing to hold up Metro Arts’ end of the agreement, leading artists to question if Metro Arts was about to have a repeat of the FY24 grant cycle.
“Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the Interim Executive Director of Metro Arts Nashville Office of Arts and Culture since May 16, 2024,” reads Coleman’s email. “It has been an amazing experience. I am submitting my resignation effective Friday, January 10, 2025 at 5 p.m.”
This will be the second time in less than a year that the department responsible for distributing grants to artists and arts organizations is left without leadership at an essential time.
Former Metro Arts Director Daniel Singh resigned in May with a $200,000 settlement agreement. Before that, he had been on FMLA leave followed by administrative leave since February, leaving the department rudderless.
Daniel Singh gets $200,000 in deal as commission looks to put the chaos of last year behind it
When Coleman was initially hired, Metro Human Resources director Sharon Hall told the arts commission that once a search for a permanent director began, it could take up to six months. With another interim leader likely, the department will have its third director in nine months.
After Coleman’s resignation, a closed executive session is scheduled for Thursday before the full commission meeting.
As part of the conciliation agreement, Metro Arts had until Jan. 6 to submit new grant guidelines and formulas to the Metro Council for approval. In an effort to build trust with the council, the Metro Human Relations Commission — which was party to the conciliation agreement — planned to sign on to the legislation to build good faith.
However, and according to a letter from MHRC Director Davie Tucker to Hall and Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz, Tucker's staff did not receive the Metro Arts draft materials until 3 p.m. on Jan. 3 — a Friday — giving the MHRC and Metro Legal insufficient time for review.
According to Tucker, those drafts were riddled with spelling, grammar, format and policy errors, resulting in his staff and Metro Legal staff stepping in to pick up the slack over a weekend to ensure the grant guidelines and formulas were submitted by the Jan. 6 deadline.
While the deadline was met, the legislation was still not perfect, and a meeting of the Metro Arts Grants and Funding Committee has been scheduled for Jan. 15, with “potential edits” to both the Thrive and Operating grant guidelines on the agenda.
A full Metro Arts Commission meeting is scheduled for Jan. 16.
