I have remained pretty
mum on the management of the Museum, and in particular, Ms Calicchio’s tenure
which I have had some real concern about.
However, those who may have read my reviews of the Destination-D event
this last August, will remember that I was none too please with Ms. Calicchio’s
presentation
at that event. At the time, I said I was
addressing my concerns through other channels, and I did … But, I can say now
that there were many Museum members in that audience, and most express their
concern and rather hurt feeling that we completely overlooked in amongst her
other audience acknowledgements, and were very disappointed to learn of the
rather important Snow White exhibition coming to the Museum through the D23
event and not through Museum communications.
One would have thought that the Museum members would be the first to
learn of such an event. After that
session, I seemed to become a lightning rod for questions from the members in
attendance, wonder WTH that was that we had just witnessed. I addressed those concerns from the
presentation directly to the Co-Founder of the Museum.
Not that I want to
pile on, but, now that she is gone I can address all of my concerns more
publicly.
First, my very first
encounter with the New CEO was after one of the first presentations at the
Museum that she introduced. After the
program had concluded and the theater was clearing, Gabriella was down in front
at the podium so I went down to introduce myself and welcome her to the
Museum. I felt her curt “Thank you,” and
then quick departure was rather cool, but at the time I just chalked it up to
be new. But then, when I did encounter
her during other visit, I noticed almost always that she had a cell phone to
her ear, or in the company of someone and talking while they walked. From this and my first encounter, I got the
distinct impression that she was cool and unapproachable to the visitors and
members. The former Director – Richard
Benefield – always seemed to make time to stop and talk with the Museum’s
frequently visitors, and was very approachable.
One of issue which has been on the tongue of many frequent visitors, are
the presentation and program offering under Ms. Calicchio’s leadership. While the program offering have seem to be on
the increase, or at least returning to the levels offered during the first year
of operations, they seem to be moving away from a Walt Disney centric group of
topics. And finally, there is a serious
lack of communications with the Members of the Museum.
One of the things
that was always pleased and amazed me about the Museum has been the absolute
joy and friendliness of the Museum’s staff and volunteers working the events
and galleries. Again, very approachable,
and ready to do whatever they can to make your visit a pleasure. After a few months on the job for the New
CEO, I noticed a difference in the attitudes and personality of most all of the
staff and volunteers I encounters. It
was subtle, and probably not visible to all, but the most frequent of
visitors. Then there was the Mad Tea
Party event. Ms. Calicchio had her
children in attendance with her at the party, and for the most part, all went
well. However, when her youngest child
lost at one of the games that was part of the festivities, and began to sob
almost uncontrollably, I saw an expression of tension and fear apparent on the
faces of almost all the staff and volunteers present. There might not be that much to this, but
with all that I had already seen in the changes in the staff, this was a bit
telling of the CEO’s impact on the organization. But, probably the most amazing deficit,
besides never running a museum, for any person running a Museum dedicated to
Walt Disney was the fact that she, until a few months before being appointed
CEO, had never visited to one of Walt’s greatest creations – Disneyland. Now couple, what I consider an epic fail, the
Snow White Exhibit presentation panel at the Destination D event, and an almost
equally poor public performance during the Snow White Exhibit opening reception
for VIP’s and Members at the Museum, and I can say quite publicly that my
opinion that Gabriella Calicchio was the wrong person to run the Walt Disney
Family Museum, an opinion born out as accurate given her recent abrupt
departure. It should also be noted that
the former Director, Richard Benefield, was not very knowledgeable on the
subject of Walt Disney, which I believed hampered his effectiveness as the
Museum’s leader, even with his strong background in museum development and
operations.
To end my review of
Ms. Calicchio’s tenure as CEO of the Museum, I’ll close with a few positive
notes from her tenure. During her
tenure, the membership roles at the Museum have almost doubled from 1100 to a
bit over 2100 members. An impressive
increase, but still lower than I believe they could or should be if a more
creative marketing was conducted. The
most impressive improvement is the increased visitors to the Museum’s
galleries, given as just over 32,000 visitors in the first quarter of 2013. A 71% increase over the first quarter in
2012. These greatly improved numbers
are, I think, a result of some changes in policies for those visiting the
galleries. First, the ‘No Photography’
in the galleries has recently been rescinded, and second two benefit visitors
with young children, strollers are now allowed in the galleries. So, I will admit that Ms. Calicchio has had
some positive influence during her tenure.
As the search for a
new leader of the Walt Disney Family Museum commences, I think it is important
for the family to realize that the one issue which created the greatest challenges
for its leaders is their lack of knowledge and understanding of legacy and
impact of Museum’s primary topic – Walt Disney.
I really hope that the next CEO/Director, or as some of us would prefer
– Curator, chosen by the family will be someone with a true understanding and
passion for Walt Disney and his legacy.
It would seem to me that a Museum dedicated to Walt Disney needs a
leader that can see and promoted a telling of Walt Disney’s life and legacy in
a creative way, like the master might have done himself. Oh all my interactions with the Museum during
the last few years, I can think of one person who could fit that bill quite
nicely.
That would the
person of Jeff Kurtti,
Producer, Director, Author, and noted Disney Authority. I have had the opportunity to get to know
Jeff over the last few years, and have been able to attend most all of Museum
programs and panels he has moderated. I
have the pleasure of counting Jeff as a friend today, but would endorse him
regardless of that friendship as one of the best qualified to be the Curator of
Walt’s legacy.
Your comments or questions
are always welcome. If you have a
correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel
free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com
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