CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The volunteer docents at the Art Institute of Chicago - all effectively fired last month in a controversial attempt at diversity, are hopeful the museum may now be backpedaling.
After the 82 volunteer guides were summarily dismissed in September, the institute said that led to “harassment and threats” to the staff.
A spokesperson for the museum would not elaborate.
Now, a month and a half later, the president of the Docent Council, Gigi Vaffis, was pleased by a statement the museum released to WBBM Tuesday evening that said, “We are moving to a hybrid model that incorporates paid and volunteer educators.”
“I would say, on behalf of the volunteer educators, we are encouraged by that statement,” she said. "And we look forward to our return to the galleries by the end of this calendar year.”
However, the original plan calls for volunteers to be brought back in some form in 2023.
The docents say they want to come back now. “When will the hybrid model begin and when do we get back into the galleries", questioned Vaffis.
“Our hope, from the volunteer docents, is that we’re back in the galleries by Christmas of this year.”
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