The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago, the oldest public museum in the country dedicated to African American visual art, has responded to allegations of a retaliatory termination, following several years of high staff turnover.
Weekly newspaper the Chicago Crusader reports that Kim Dulaney, who served as vice president of education and programs since 2022, was terminated on October 3 by museum president Perri Irmer, who explained the firing as part of institutional restructuring. According to the report, in the past year Dulaney had filed complaints with the museum’s Human Resources department, alleging that Irmer retaliated against her after she criticized the state of operations.
In a statement made to Chicago Crusader, the museum said, “The allegations made by Kim Dulaney on October 7 are outrageous and categorically false.
“The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center maintains strict financial controls, conducts regular audits, and is subject to oversight by both internal and external parties to ensure that all funds are used appropriately and in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and grant requirements.”
The decision to end Dulaney’s employment, the statement continued, “followed a thorough and fair review process, conducted in accordance with our established policies and procedures.”
Dulaney reportedly did not mention the museum’s finances to Crusader, however concerns over the subject have been raised by former employees and past members of the board. (ARTnews has contacted the museum for comment, and requested a copy of the most recent audit.)
The DuSable Museum has seen high staff turnover and financial turmoil in recent years. In 2017 Leslie Guy, chief curator at the museum, filed a lawsuit after she was terminated. As first reported by Crusader, her lawsuit was settled but, in the complaint, filed in Cook County, Guy accused leadership of not paying guest curators and vendors. Also according to the complaint, “various grants and other donor funds reserved for specific projects were depleted and being misspent on other Museum functions despite…grant requirements and without prior approval of the various grant donors.” The following year, seven board members resigned reportedly without notice.
