Major arts group leader steps aside amid complaints

Robert Lynch, chief executive of Americans for the Arts, the powerful national advocacy group, has stepped aside amid complaints and investigations into the organization’s equity and diversity practices and its workplace management.

Lynch, who has served in the leadership role there for more than three decades, will take a paid leave of absence, the group’s board of directors announced in a statement Wednesday. “It has become evident that despite our best efforts, we have not met our goals to lead, serve and advance the diverse networks of entities and individuals who cultivate the arts in America,” the statement said.

Lynch, 71, has been a prominent advocate for resources for nonprofit arts organizations; he was also on the Biden-Harris transition team for the arts and humanities. His departure from his post at AFTA, where his annual compensation package was over $900,000, according to tax filings, was voluntary and effective immediately, the statement said. (Lynch’s work with the BidenHarris transition team has been completed, a spokesman said.)

His absence was meant to allow a robust examination of AFTA, which has an endowment of over $100 million. “It is Bob’s strong belief — one that is regrettably shared by the board — that the most appropriate course of action now is to allow the investigations to proceed without distraction and in the best interests of the mission of the organization and the field,” the statement said.

The move comes after a growing chorus of criticism, from current and former AFTA employees and advisory council members, who said that the organization was failing its mission with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion.