By Christopher Clough
News-Chronicle
Concern over the future direction of the Neville Public Museum is part of the reason it's losing one of its key employees.
Jack Moga, curator of art since 1997, is leaving to become curator of collections and exhibitions at the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami Beach. His last official day with the Neville is Dec. 7, although he said he probably will work there for a few days after that.
Moga gave several reasons for the move, most of them typical for people changing jobs. He cited better pay and financial opportunities in the Miami area; the opportunity to expose his two teen-aged children to a different educational and social scene; and better job opportunities for his wife, who had worked in Jewish community programs before coming to Green Bay.
"Another thing is, we're Jewish," Moga said. "There's a marvelous Jewish community in the Miami area."
But Moga also hinted that his reasons for leaving have something to do with the Neville. He questioned the amount and type of support the Neville is getting from Brown County, which operates the museum. He said the county has given the Neville little ‹ if any ‹ direction.
"I don't feel we have the support of the county and the community," he said. "I think the county would like to have the museum; but what size, what type? What does (the county) want us to be?
"I'm going to a museum with heavy financial support; its director is a tiger and has the support of the community. We don't have that here. I saw all the red flags and decided it was time to get off this ship."
He said part of what he perceives as lack of support comes from the county's nonaction in finding a permanent director.
Eugene Umberger has been interim director at the Neville for about 18 months, and the county has not yet moved to fill that or the vacant curator of exhibits position. A county hiring freeze was in place after last year's budget but was lifted earlier this year.
"(Umberger) is doing the best he can do, and he's a good man," Moga said. "But being an interim director, he has his hands tied, and that makes me feel uneasy.
"I've enjoyed my experience here. I've worked with talented, capable people. (But) many staff people are doing double duty. If the county wants a museum with full staff, changing exhibits, there needs to be a show of support."
Moga said school groups, senior organizations and other educational groups have come to permanent and rotating exhibits at the Neville regularly. But he said that attendance figures that have decreased over the past several years have caused him to wonder about the museum's popular support. It relies on county funding and public and private donations to keep running.
"It may be the case that you're only going to get so many visitors a year in a community of this size," he said. "Maybe 70,000 visitors a year is as good as it's going to get."
But Umberger said he thinks the Neville's future will be brighter after talking with County Executive Nancy Nusbaum on Monday. He said he now hopes to begin searching for a permanent director and new art curator in January.
"Things are finally moving in a positive direction," Umberger said. "As of today, we hope to advertise (for the positions) no later than in January. (Finding a permanent director) will help go a long way toward offering a sense of stability and a clearer sense of direction here."
He said whatever direction the museum takes would depend on its new director. He also said losing Moga is difficult for the museum. "We're very sorry to lose Jack," Umberger said. "He's done a great job with a series of changing exhibits. But obviously he's looking at a wonderful opportunity."
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