From difficult bosses and uncooperative co-workers, to implementing new processes in a resistant environment - learning skills to strategically navigate conflicts within the workplace is perhaps one of the most necessary skills for maintaining a positive and productive work life. Join hosts Young Professionals in the Arts and New York Foundation for the Arts’ Emerging Leaders at NYFA in Brooklyn, for a knowledge and skill building workshop with arts leaders who’ve successfully balanced the art of conflict in the process.

Leading the conversation will be Judith Pineiro, Executive Director at Association of Art Museum Curators, Maria Villafranca, Director of Communications at The Andy Warhol Foundation, and Monica Montgomery, Co-founder of Museum Hue.

After the conversation we will break into small groups to enact real-life conflict scenarios and discover resolutions. You will also have the opportunity to discuss solutions, pitfalls, and agreements directly with our speakers.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Monica O. Montgomery, is an arts and culture consultant and DEAI trainer, using a social justice framework to foster innovation and fresh outcomes that bridge the equity gap between people and institutions. She is the principal trainer of ‘IDEAL Culture Environments of Equity’ platform. She works internationally to facilitate diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives with clients throughout Europe, Africa and North America. As an independent curator and thought leader she uses her platforms to build power through curation and community engagement in service to society. She is cofounder and strategic director of Museum Hue, a multicultural membership network advocating for people of color in arts, culture and museums. Monica leads, Museum Hue in building diverse representation through pedagogy, policy and practice.

Additionally, Monica holds a Bachelors of Arts in Broadcast Communication from Temple University and a Masters of Arts in Corporate Communication from LaSalle University. She is a graduate adjunct professor seasonally teaching in Museum Studies programs across the country, i.e. Harvard University, Pratt Institute, Johns Hopkins University and NYU and guest lecturing at Columbia University, American University, University of Pennsylvania, CUNY, Seton Hall University and dozens more.

Monica holds leadership advisory positions in the OfByForAll Change Network, Leading Changemakers, Museums As Sites of Social Action, NYC Arts in Education Roundtable and other arts collectives. She is a dynamic speaker, recently delivering a TedX talk entitled 'How To Be an Upstander' challenging everyone to stand up, speak up and act up for social good. She is currently an artist fellow with the Human Impacts Institute.

Judith Pineiro, Executive Director, AAMC & AAMC Foundation
Since 2014, Judith has been Executive Director, Association of Art Museum Curators & AAMC Foundation. Prior positions include External Affairs Consultant; Director, Affordable Art Fair U.S.; Associate Development Director, Institutional Advancement, Museum of Arts & Design; Account Manager, Museum Services, Christie’s; and galleries in New York and Los Angeles. She is a mentor in the Diversity in Arts Leadership program of the Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts. Judith also serves as Vice President, Communication on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at ArtTable, and as Board member is also on the Finance Committee. She is a former Board member at New York Artists Equity Association. Judith has had speaking engagements at the Association of African American Museums and Museum Computer Network, and served as a juror for the National Arts Education Association and Brooklyn Arts Council. She has an M.A., Art History, from Rutgers University.

Maria Villafranca is the Director of Communications for the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. In this new position for the Foundation, Maria develops and oversees all communications strategies in close alignment with board and staff. Previously, she worked at the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) for ten years where she established NYFA's first communications and online resources department, supervised staff, and raised income through advertising and strategic partnerships. She has presented on artist resources at nonprofits across the country and has held positions at Pace Gallery, Marbella Gallery, and the Dactyl Foundation for Arts & Humanities. She has a BA in Art History and English from Rutgers University and an MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son, and pug.