NEA’s communications director reportedly resigns in wake of Glenn Beck attacks
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Yosi Sergant, who had recently assumed the post of communications director at the National Endowment for the Arts, reportedly has resigned his position following accusations by a conservative commentator of a conflict of interest.
As of Friday afternoon, reports said that Sergant -- a former L.A. resident who once worked with artist Shepard Fairey -- had left his post at the NEA. Some reports said that Sergant will be reassigned to a different job within the organization.
A page on the NEA’s website still lists Sergant as the director of the communications office.
The news comes on the heels of accusations by conservative pundit Glenn Beck, who claimed that Sergant organized an August conference call with the White House Office of Public Engagement and United We Serve for the purpose of recruiting artists to create works supporting the policies of President Obama.
United We Serve is a group organized by the Obama administration to bolster community service and volunteerism around the country.
The NEA has reportedly denied that Sergant acted inappropriately. Sergant did not immediately respond to a request for comment today.
As Culture Monster reported earlier this week, a blog run by Patrick Courrielche, who owns an L.A. marketing and entertainment company, ran a story that claims that Sergant was in charge of the conference call. The blog also claims that those on the call were praised for having played a key role in the election.
-- David Ng
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