The Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, is currently facing significant criticism following its decision to cancel artist residencies and other programming. This move has prompted calls for greater transparency and new leadership from both artists and a major donor, raising questions about the museum's future direction and its relationship with the broader letterpress community.
The institution, known as the only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production, and printing of wood type, announced the cancellations earlier this year. Initially, the museum cited a leadership transition as the reason, stating that its board would manage daily operations while a new executive director was sought. However, despite the recent appointment of Beth Kowalski as executive director, concerns from the community and key funders remain unaddressed.
Key Takeaways
- Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum canceled artist residencies and programming.
- A major donor, the Windgate Foundation, has threatened to withhold over $414,000 in endowment payments.
- Artists and community members are demanding board resignations and program restoration.
- The controversy has led to a 25 percent loss in the museum's earned revenue.
- The museum's board president and executive director have declined interviews, issuing only statements.
Donor Demands Leadership Change and Transparency
The Windgate Foundation, a significant supporter of the Hamilton museum for two decades, has taken a firm stance on the ongoing issues. In mid-October, the foundation sent a letter describing the controversy as a "full-blown crisis." This crisis, according to the foundation, has resulted in a loss of approximately 25 percent of the museum's earned revenue, a trajectory deemed "not sustainable."
Patricia Forgy, the Windgate Foundation's Executive Director, expressed deep concern over the "lack of transparency" from the museum's leadership. The foundation has declared it will withhold future endowment payments, which currently amount to more than $414,000, until specific conditions are met. These conditions include the resignation of executive committee members, a clear plan to reinstate canceled programming, and a commitment to diversifying the board with members from underrepresented groups.
"These steps are imperative to allow the Museum to recover and continue its important role in the printing community," the letter from the Windgate Foundation stated.
In response to inquiries about the foundation's letter, Executive Director Beth Kowalski issued a statement acknowledging Windgate's support. She added, "As to questions being raised by some, the Museum remains confident in its legal and financial position as we further our mission to provide critical preservation of our collections." The museum's board president has declined to provide an interview.
Financial Impact
The Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum has reportedly seen a 25 percent drop in its earned revenue due to program cancellations and community backlash. This significant financial hit highlights the serious repercussions of the ongoing controversy.
Artists Speak Out After Cancellations
The immediate catalyst for much of the public outcry was the abrupt cancellation of artist residencies. In early August, artist IBé Crawley received notice about her canceled residency with only about a week's warning. According to Desiree Aspiras and Jenn Graves, two print art community members who have launched a website and petition in response, Crawley's experience was a "tipping point" for a wider community conversation.
Crawley shared in an Instagram video that the only explanation she received was that the museum was "reevaluating their initiatives." Her attempts to speak with board members for clarification were unsuccessful. She even offered to pay a daily fee of $100 to use the printing facilities but was denied access entirely.
Graves and Aspiras reported that other residencies and planned exhibits for Black artists had also been canceled. "These things didn’t just happen overnight. They’ve been going on for quite some time," Graves noted, indicating that the issues had been simmering before becoming public.
The Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum
Founded in 1999, the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of wood type manufacturing and printing. It houses one of the largest collections of wood type in the world and has historically been a hub for letterpress artists through its visiting artist programs and annual Wayzgoose fundraiser.
Unsatisfying Meetings and Community Mobilization
Following the cancellations, artists sought direct communication with the museum's leadership. In September, IBé Crawley and Jenn Graves attended a Zoom meeting with board President Tracy Honn. During this meeting, Crawley specifically requested that the museum continue its residency program designed for Black, Indigenous, or women of color artists. Graves described the conversation as going "nowhere."
Julie Chen, a book artist and University of Wisconsin art professor who previously held a residency at Hamilton, also attended a separate Zoom meeting with Honn in late August. Chen characterized the meeting as "very unsatisfying." She stated that Honn was unwilling or unable to provide much information about the cancellations, leaving participants feeling that the issue was not being taken seriously.
"It didn’t seem to us like she felt like this was an important issue. After that meeting, the community started to mobilize," Chen explained. This mobilization quickly gained momentum, leading to tangible consequences for the museum.
Wayzgoose Cancellation and Petition Campaign
The community's discontent manifested in several ways. Multiple presenters withdrew from the museum's annual Wayzgoose fundraiser program. This event is a significant gathering for the letterpress community and a crucial source of revenue for the museum. In response to the withdrawals and requests for refunds from registered attendees, the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum ultimately canceled this year's Wayzgoose event.
Beyond the Wayzgoose cancellation, a petition campaign launched in late September is actively calling for the resignation of the museum’s entire board of directors and executive committee. Additionally, organizers initiated a postcard campaign targeting the Reva and David Logan Foundation, another major funder of the museum, urging them to intervene in the escalating situation.
The museum's recent statement from Executive Director Beth Kowalski on November 1 indicated an awareness of these efforts. "We are aware of others’ efforts to look back and and, while we respect those individuals’ and groups’ rights to voice their opinions, we also need to forge ahead in our important work," the statement read. This suggests the museum is attempting to move past the controversy, but the community's demands for accountability and change persist.