Staff removed from Brewery Arts Center

The top professional staff of the Brewery Arts Center has been ousted, according to a message posted on the organization’s website.

“During an examination of our organizational structure as part of our strategic planning process, the Brewery Arts Center board has determined that in order to better serve our public, nurture organizational health and work toward ensuring organizational stability, the Brewery Arts Center is currently operating without professional staff,” reads a message from Chris Bayer, chairman of the center’s board.

He said the board members have assumed the duties “to maintain core activities and programming and our doors are open.”

Among those removed from office were Executive Director John Shelton and Program Director Tami Castillo-Shelton.

John Shelton, who also serves as chairman of the Carson City Arts & Cultural Coalition, was named director in Oct., 2010, after running his own consulting business and serving as executive director of the Pioneer Center in Reno.

In a mass email sent Friday afternoon, Tami Castillo-Shelton, said she wished the best for the arts center.

“It is a hard situation for all and I hold no ill will,” she wrote. “My heartfelt wish is for the Brewery Arts Center and our wonderful City to flourish in the arts and culture and to continue to become all that they can be.”

She said she will continue to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada.

It’s unclear whether the entire staff has been laid off. Other professional staff members listed on the website include Darla Bayer, manager of the local public-access television station and Grayson Stipe, sound technician, teacher, and events and rental coordinator. The site also lists crew members Keith Barnett, Tabitha Keeling, Taylor Stipe and Jeff Fast.

Phone calls and emails to Bayer have not been returned.