Maryland Hall Official Statement

Maryland Hall Official Statement:

“Our Mission, Our Values, Our Future.

A Message to the Maryland Hall Community

At Maryland Hall, our mission of Art for All is more than a promise to our community. It is a commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring place where artists, students, audiences, employees, volunteers, partners, and supporters can thrive. Achieving that mission depends not only on the programs we present, but on a culture rooted in respect, accountability, collaboration, transparency, and responsible stewardship.

These values guide every decision the Board of Directors makes on behalf of Maryland Hall.

They also shape our responsibility to safeguard this institution, its mission, and the people it serves.

In recent months, the Board of Directors became aware of serious concerns raised by current and former employees regarding workplace culture, leadership practices, communication, and staff experiences within the organization. In response, the Board engaged an independent third party to conduct a comprehensive review of organizational leadership and workplace practices.

Conducted over approximately ten weeks, the review included interviews and feedback from members of the Maryland Hall community and carefully examined the organization's leadership, culture, and operations.

With the Board's independent review process now complete, we believe it is important to provide our community with additional context about recent events and the future of Maryland Hall.

The findings of that review made clear that a change in executive leadership was necessary to ensure Maryland Hall's culture and leadership remain aligned with the values that define who we are, how we serve our community, and the future we are working to build. Jackie Coleman subsequently submitted her resignation, which the Board accepted.

The Board views the leadership transition as an opportunity to both reinforce the mission of Maryland Hall and better position the institution for future sustainability.

Throughout this transition, Christopher Miller has served as Acting Executive Director, providing steady leadership and continuity across the organization. As Director of Finance and Operations, Chris has been a respected leader within Maryland Hall for several years. Under his leadership, Maryland Hall has continued to operate without interruption. Classes, camps, performances, exhibitions, community programs, and partnerships have continued seamlessly because of the extraordinary dedication of our staff, teaching artists, volunteers, and supporters.

The Maryland Hall Board of Directors has confirmed that Christopher Miller will continue serving as Acting Executive Director. His leadership throughout this transition has provided stability for our employees, confidence for our community, and continuity for the organization as we move forward.

Every organization reaches moments that call for reflection, accountability, and renewed purpose. Maryland Hall is no exception. "We are at an important inflection point in our history, and we have an opportunity now to refocus how we operate as a preeminent arts organization both externally and internally," said Board Chair Eric Leshinsky. "We have a remarkable staff of professionals who deserve to work in an environment that is supportive, fosters collaboration, and exemplifies the values we project outwardly."

The work before us is to strengthen our organizational culture, support our employees, and ensure that the values we ask our staff to uphold are reflected at every level of leadership. We are committed to building an organization that reflects the creativity, integrity, and sense of community that have always defined our mission," he added. As we begin this next chapter, we are committed to leading with transparency, strengthening our culture, and ensuring that Maryland Hall continues to be a place where every member of our community feels valued, respected, and inspired.

Thank you for continuing to make Maryland Hall the vibrant creative community we are proud to call home.“