Can Tullahoma's Art Center Recover?
New TFAC President Troy McFarland, during a recent exhibit in the center's regional art gallery.
Story by Russel Mobley, MTA editor / November 5, 2010
After a bloodless coup, new leadership has emerged at the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center. But will the new Board of Directors be able to turn the organization around and preserve an art treasure that has been in decline for more than a decade?
The not-for-profit has made improvements since the board was elected on September 15.
For weeks, volunteers have been helping board members clear out the center's south wing. Built in 1992 to add classrooms, a large gallery and office, in recent years it had largely been used for storage.
And TFAC directors promise to take the center on a new course, working closely with area artists to showcase their work. But the lack of money threatens to derail their plans.
Newly-elected TFAC President Troy McFarland, optimistically likens the center's situation as "a phoenix rising out of the ashes."
“When you change groups, it is a major shift for an organization,” said McFarland. “We did not have a smooth transition period. We're trying to correct years of misdirection. But we're going forward. We want to re-establish relationships with the Tennessee Arts Commission and area artists.”
"This place will not fail."
“The next few months are critical,” admits McFarland. “There's (no money) laying around. The big donor is not out there. But we can do it little by little. This place will not fail.”
McFarland hopes to find more money to carry the center through the rest of its fiscal year, which began July 1.
But sources of funds for TFAC dried up in recent years. TFAC is now relying heavily on funds from the City of Tullahoma. In September the Board of Mayor and Aldermen restored the $10,400 in appropriations it was withholding until they were satisfied that the center was adhering to its charter.
TFAC has a dues-paying membership, but according to TFAC Treasurer Roxane Garrett, new memberships and renewals are not coming in at the rate she expected. Since a flurry of new memberships right before the election, “they've really slowed down.”
During the last decade, memberships have declined more than 50 percent.
TFAC lost more than $50,000
Garrett, who is preparing to file the center's 990 tax form this month, said TFAC had a deficit of more than $9,000 during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30. During the previous fiscal year, the center had a deficit of $14,297. Over the last nine fiscal years, TFAC lost more than $50,000.
And according to board member Keith Moore, the center owes its former executive director, Lucy Hollis, more than $13,000 in wages. Moore said the money was for a check Hollis failed to cash during a previous year.
According to documents and Hollis, she loaned $13, 476 to the center during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009. The center's 990 tax return for that year states that the loan, made without a written agreement, was approved by the board of directors. Hollis also served as board president.
Earlier this year, the center's operations came under scrutiny by the city and TFAC members.
Hollis resigned on August 23, citing health reasons.
