In February 2021, the organization received national criticism for a job posting that called for a new director that would work not only to attract a more diverse audience but to maintain its "traditional, core, white art audience." This came seven months after the release of a critical statement from Kelli Morgan, a black curator who left Newfields, calling the museum’s culture "toxic" and "discriminatory". As result, Charles L. Venable resigned from his position as president of Newfields, and the company released a statement committing to a series of changes.[1][2]