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September 9, 2024

Greater Hartford Arts Council CEO Best ‘terminated’ following internal investigation

PHOTOS | KEITH CLAYTOR Rev. Shelley Best, former CEO of the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

The Greater Hartford Arts Council’s Board of Directors put out a statement Monday afternoon saying it has terminated the employment of CEO Rev. Shelley Best effective immediately, following an internal investigation.

The decision was reached after the investigation concluded that “Best’s actions were inconsistent with GHAC’s procedural policies, as well as code of conduct, culture and values,” according to the statement.

There were no further details shared about the investigation, or Best’s actions. A spokesperson for the arts council said there would be no further comment on the situation at this time. 

The arts council’s board said it has appointed longtime employee Amanda Roy as interim CEO, and will begin a search for a permanent chief executive in the coming months.

“We are thrilled to have Amanda step into this critical role,” said Robert Braswell, chairman of the arts council’s board of directors. “Her exceptional talent, combined with her intimate knowledge of the organization and the Hartford arts landscape, make her the ideal candidate to lead GHAC during this transitional period.”

Best was hired as the arts council’s CEO in 2022, and she made diversity, equity and inclusion her top priority in the role. 

According to the nonprofit’s latest 990 tax form, the arts council in 2022 reported just over $2 million in revenue and an operating loss of ­$440,440. A year earlier, the arts council reported $1.6 million in revenue and a $­210,381 deficit. It had $2.9 million in assets at the end of 2022. Best made $104,155 in compensation in that same year. tax filings show. 

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