Chris Greiner is no longer working at 3S Artspace. The Portsmouth nonprofit announced on Friday, Feb. 5, that Greiner, the organization’s founder and former executive director, had departed 3S less than a year after it opened its doors.
Greiner’s departure comes three months after the board asked him to take an indefinite leave of absence. The nonprofit made the announcement on Friday, Feb. 5, around 5:30 p.m. Interim executive director Karil Reibold, who formerly served as the chair of 3S’s board of directors, would not comment on why Greiner is no longer with 3S.
“We recognize the contributions he’s made to bringing 3S to the community and his ability to mobilize the community of donors to make 3S a reality. But, like any other company, out of respect for Chris and 3S, this is a personnel matter, and legally, we can’t talk about it,” she said.
Friday’s announcement stirred up speculation about Greiner’s departure on social media. Reibold said she’s aware of the concerns people have expressed and is “happy to meet and talk with people about 3S, if they’d like to.”
“3S has always been a labor of love for me, and I’d always considered it to be my life’s work.”
— 3S Artspace founder Chris Greiner
Reibold said she’s volunteered with 3S for the last three and a half years, and has been a full-time volunteer for two of those years. “I can’t imagine a time without 3S, and everything I do is in support of the vision of 3S,” she said.
Greiner said he could not comment specifically on his departure, but added, “3S has always been a labor of love for me, and I’d always considered it to be my life’s work.”
Greiner spent more than six years planning and fundraising for 3S. The nonprofit facility, which includes a performance space, art gallery, and the Block Six restaurant, held its grand opening in March 2015 in a newly renovated building in Portsmouth’s North End.
When 3S opened, Greiner served as the nonprofit’s executive director. By last summer, his title had changed to artistic director. Around the same time, programming manager Dan Hirsch and gallery curator Jaime DeSimone departed the staff. In November, Greiner said the board asked him to take a leave of absence. Regarding his declining leadership role at 3S in the months after it opened, Greiner said, “I think that’s a question better asked of the organization. They could explain it better than I could.” He added that, at the time Hirsch and DeSimone left, he did not have the authority to make personnel decisions.
Reibold would not comment on why the two left 3S. Hirsch did not respond to a request for comment; DeSimone declined to speak on the record. Several 3S board members contacted by The Sound directed all questions to Reibold.
“I think the programming is starting to resonate with the community … and we continue to have the support of the donor community. And, like any arts organization, we need the support of the community.” — Karil Reibold, interim executive director of 3S Artspace
Since August, Reibold said, a volunteer programming committee has been working with 3S staff to book events for the venue.
“It’s a group of local artists and people in the music industry who have been working with the team to program the space and increase the diversity of programming. We’ve been focused on bringing in film and children’s programming and more music, and reaching a broader demographic, and we’re doing that as a committee to ensure we’re meeting the community’s expectations of the vision,” she said. “We had one sold-out show this weekend and we have an upcoming sold-out show. It’s translating into ticket sales and I think the committee of volunteers in the performance space and the gallery are in alignment with the 3S vision.”
Reibold would not comment specifically on the financial health of 3S as an organization, but said that there were, “like with any start up … bumps in the road.”
“Early on, our programming was not reaching a wide enough demographic. When we first opened, programming was a little bit too narrow for the market,” she said. “I think the programming is starting to resonate with the community … and we continue to have the support of the donor community. And, like any arts organization, we need the support of the community.”
When 3S first opened, Greiner said, there were “challenges at every level.” But he added that those challenges are normal for any new venture. “I imagine there are very few businesses out there that hit the bullseye on day one, or even month one, or year one. It takes time to find your stride,” he said.
“We really do have a special community here, and I’m pleased I was able to get to know it so well for so many years.” — Chris Greiner
Greiner said his relationship with the board changed after 3S opened its doors.
“The relationship … during a pre-start-up phase is decidedly different than the dynamic that emerges when an organization is operational,” he said. “The types of decisions being made are different. The distinctions between the staff and board and all of the roles and responsibilities of each come into greater relief.”
Curating exhibits for the gallery space has also presented challenges. “Supertouch: A Modern Gig Poster Retrospective,” an exhibit of music poster art opening on Feb. 19, will be the first exhibit since last fall. Reibold said the gallery “wasn’t really resonating with the community. That was the feedback we were getting from the community, and we wanted to be thoughtful and make sure the community thought we were listening to them.”
Reibold added that an exhibit is scheduled for 3S’s upcoming anniversary weekend in March, and there are plans to use the gallery space for workshops with traveling artists. Work also continues on plans to build and rent studio space for artists on the building’s second floor. “That part of the vision is still intact,” Reibold said.
Reibold said 3S is actively searching for a new executive director. “That person, once hired, will build the organization and the budget that will be implemented from there,” she said.
Greiner said he has not been involved with 3S in any capacity since the end of 2015. “3S has been a daily preoccupation of mine for many, many years, and now I don’t have that pleasure. Without that, I need to figure out what’s next,” he said. “I can only look at this as an opportunity.”
Greiner said the Seacoast community has been supportive of him and his vision, and he acknowledged the hard work of everyone who has kept 3S in operation.
“I have a lot of respect for the people who are working so hard to bring the vision to life … and I’m very grateful for the support that this community has given me and 3S along the way,” he said. “We really do have a special community here, and I’m pleased I was able to get to know it so well for so many years.”