Save the Emerson!

Save the Emerson

Bring back the vision. Intimidation from the director is not leadership. Support artist's in a safe, enriching environment that is family oriented !

I had the pleasure of living in Bozeman as a kid in the 70s. I love the Emerson and all that it stands for, for the good people of Bozeman.

I cant stand seeing people miserable over someone who is supposed to be a leader.

The Emerson used to be a vibrant, fun place to go, always our first stop on the Art Walks. We don't go anymore, it's like the joy has been sucked out of the place. Very disappointing and sad, and a massive disservice to all the wonderful artists who are trying to share their passion with the community.

I recently rented studio & gallery space in the galleria hall of the Emerson. I was told that the traffic was great and was asked to stay open all day to provide an option for visitors. I did just that, and only seen just handful of Visitors. The Emerson leadership didn’t do any promotions within the time I was there to promote any of the galleries in the Galleria hall space. The Leadership didn’t show any passion for the Arts or the community of Artists that are there. Being that this is the Arts and Culture center of our Amazing city . It should be the hottest place in town for the Arts. The Natives like my wife and her family would like to see it back where it was not to long ago. New leadership is needed to make the Emerson what it once was. Javier Moreno Owner Moreno Fine Art Gallery Bozeman Mt

This is a known and problematic circumstance that has been toxic in the Bozeman area for years. It is long overdue that this be addressed and remedied!

Under Susan's leadership, the Emerson has gone from the quirky, welcoming hub of downtown to an unhappy, unfriendly place. The studio doors are all kept closed and there is no longer a sense of community. Tenant rents have been raised without improvements to the facility that might reflect market rates. She does not honor the contributions that tenants make to their spaces or to the community at large, and hikes up rents to make up for her failures in fundraising. Save the Emerson!

I am signing anonymously for fear of retribution. I'm a relatively new tenant at the Emerson, and despite working in my space every day since July, I have not yet met the ED. Normally I would have gone to her office and introduced myself, but every single tenant that I've spoken with has warned me about her. So I've been keeping my head down. I was so excited to get a studio at the Emerson. I love my space and I've loved starting to get to know my creative neighbors. But the ED's reputation casts a long, uneasy shadow over the whole building.

Please help save this cultural institution!

I am a tenant at the Emerson. I have been disrespected, insulted, reprimanded, humiliated in front of clients, yelled at, (bullied), bringing me to tears from the Executive Director, Susan Denison-Guy. Rules get changed on a whim, not followed through and with absolutely no discussion from the tenant. I believe that when Susan was hired there should have been a year trial period. It was obvious that she was not a good fit and should have been replaced from the very beginning. The community has had to deal with her for over ten years. The Emerson could be such a vibrant Art Center for our community. I was told that the board at her previous job at the Children’s Museum couldn’t wait to get rid of her. She is interested in her own ego and legacy. She is competitive and righteous. It is her way or the highway. She has intimidated most of the tenants where they basically find ways to avoid her and work in their studios with closed doors. It is an unhealthy environment to work in. She does not leave room for collaboration. She raised our rents 20 percent this past year without notice and gave herself a $20,000 raise. The board is down to 4 people. Tenants are not informed or invited to the board meetings. Many people and businesses in the community do not want to work with her.

I have been an Emerson Tenant in the West Wing since February 2009. My rent has increased dramatically since the current Executive Director was hired, but in the past two years, the increase has almost put me out of business and created a terrible hardship. When the current ED began in this position, the entire atmosphere of the Emerson Center changed in a very negative way. The tenants have tried to get meetings with the entire Board but this has not been allowed. The rent increase this year for my suites was an almost 50% increase from last year, with the ED alleging that the "market value" of similar spaces in Bozeman had increased. However, the ED gave herself a $40,000 salary increase!! And, the tenants still endure grossly insufficient heat, no second floor elevator, minimally functional restrooms that often are not cleaned and usually are out of paper towels and often out of soap. The ED has yelled at tenants and behaved very unprofessionally with hostility and anger towards many tenants and former employees who deserve respect and consideration. We desperately need a total change in leadership at the Emerson Center with a change in the Executive Director and a total change in the existing Board.

Not the collaborative environment intended from those who formed this Center.

It is no surprise that this has to come to life via an online petition because all complaints about Emerson management must first be presented to management. Management can then choose (entirely at their discretion) whether or not to present those complaints to the board. This organizational structure is built to allow management to do anything they want with zero accountability.

<3 save our cherished Emerson!!!

The ED must be replaced or you will continue to lose income and valuable tenants. She is outrageous and the fact nothing has been done is mind blowing.

Glad to see this coming to light.

Sounds like a terrible situation

I have heard countless people’s complaints and stories, some shocking in nature. Glad this is getting out into public.

It was with a heavy heart that we stopped having events there a couple years ago. Not only because of the horrible way she treated us, but because we watched her treat her own staff so much worse. That venerable Building/Organization has lost so much since her reign began. It's time to turn it over to somebody who will love it and all of the renters and patrons and staff associated with it.