Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed addresses museum governance controversy before council vote

Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed publicly addressed the growing controversy surrounding the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) during his monthly press briefing this week, offering clarity on the city’s role in the museum’s governance and pushing back against what he described as misinformation.

The remarks come before the Montgomery City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance that would restructure the museum’s board and update its governance framework—a move that follows months of tension between the city and the museum’s nonprofit Association over control and oversight.

In his address, Reed emphatically denied claims that the city intended to shut down the museum or seize control from the Association.

“One, the museum is not closing. The museum is not going anywhere. And the city is not looking to take over the Montgomery Museum,” Reed said. “We’re preserving and strengthening this institution for future generations because the museum is a vital part of Montgomery’s cultural life and its long-term health as an entity, but also for our city.”

Reed explained that the city’s review of the museum’s operations was prompted by a lawsuit filed earlier this year in which the City of Montgomery was named as a defendant. The litigation, he said, revealed gaps in legal compliance tied to how the museum has historically been managed.

“For many years, it was managed by a private association in ways that don’t comply with Alabama law… This has created real legal risks and operational challenges, including confusion over employee roles and contracts signed without proper city approval,” Reed said.

At the center of the issue is the museum’s management by both a city-appointed board and a nonprofit Association. While the Association has traditionally handled fundraising and exhibition development, the city asserts that public ownership of the building and the use of taxpayer funding require full legal compliance with state laws, specifically Section 94 of the Alabama Constitution, which limits the transfer of public assets to private entities without public oversight.

“The city is not looking to take over the museum. The city is establishing a legally compliant governance structure,” Reed stated. “It’s not about control for us. It’s about stewardship.”

In February, city officials issued a public statement reinforcing that legal governance of the museum rests with the city-appointed board, as confirmed in an opinion from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. That position drew criticism from some within the museum’s Joint Board, which includes representatives of both the city and the Association, who say the museum has long operated under a cooperative public-private model.

Reed said the city is using this opportunity to correct outdated agreements and establish a more transparent and sustainable structure for the museum’s future. He emphasized that the city examined best practices, including governance models used by other public institutions, such as the Birmingham Museum of Art, before drafting the proposed ordinance.

“Sometimes it takes a not-so-good situation to bring that to light… We have to make sure we make that [correction] because we owe that to the taxpayers, we owe that to our team members here at the City of Montgomery, and we owe that to the museum and any other entity,” he said.

Reed also addressed concerns from community members who feared that the city’s involvement might endanger the museum’s art collection or programming.

“The museum is not going to close its doors. We’re committed to keeping the museum open and thriving as a space for art, learning, and community engagement,” he said. “Will the art collection be lost or removed? That answer is no. Again, you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet.”

The mayor stated that under the proposed changes, the Association will continue to play a role in fundraising, programming support, and community engagement. The ordinance, he said, is not intended to diminish the Association’s contributions, but to clarify responsibilities and ensure compliance with public governance standards.

“I don’t see that the Association—anyone is losing power. I view it as we’re collaborating and we’re gaining talent… Ultimately, for me, it’s not about a power struggle. It’s about doing what we are advised to do from our legal counsel.”

WSFA 12 shared the video of the press conference on its Facebook page.

The Montgomery City Council is expected to consider the ordinance and a related governance agreement at its June 3 meeting. A council work session begins at 4:00 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 5:00 p.m.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].