north bay nipissing news unedited interview
Post on 29-May-2017
213 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Why did you not want the media at the meeting? To the point of
postponing it if they did not leave?
It was never a question of not wanting the media to be there. It was simply that
we were taken completely by surprise at the prospect of a fair exchange of
views among members being transformed into a public spectacle which might
have frustrated any reasonable deliberation.
In any event, the media found less obtrusive means of monitoring the
proceedings which were entirely appropriate to the situation.
There was never any question of postponement, but only of unnecessary delay
in attending to the important business on the agenda if the question had been
opened for debate.
With your motion defeated, what is your next step?
It is always important to have a ‘Plan B’ which we do. We are committed to the
idea of the gallery being able to manage its day-to-day affairs without having to
run to and from the Board or management for approval. We can only say that
the new plan takes in to account the continuing operations of the gallery. We
are not walking away.
Why are you unhappy with the progress of the WKP Kennedy Gallery
Advisory Committee? Why does it not meet the needs of reorganizing
the gallery?
There has been no progress. The Chair of the Gallery Advisory Committee
conceded that when she stated categorically at the meeting that the Gallery
Development Working Group was satisfied with the status quo. It came as no
surprise. The working group was composed largely of Board members opposed
to any meaningful change. It was not widely representative of the visual arts
community as it should have been. The recommendations in the facilitator’s
were exactly the ones which the Board sought from the outset.
The Board clearly has a different model in mind for the gallery which is not in
accord with the principles, guidelines and best practices governing other public
art galleries. A good example would be that the gallery is soon to become a
wedding venue! This is completely contrary to the role of a public art gallery or
what the founders had in mind.
I understand there is a plan for a new curator. Are you satisfied about
this?
A director/curator is the gallery’s biggest and most important investment. He or
she must be highly qualified in curatorial experience and related education. A
primarily administrative position, or curation by committee, is unacceptable.
It should also be kept in mind that public art galleries generally are open to the
public without charge. In our case, the Kennedy Gallery does not enjoy the
advantage of box office ticket sales. And unlike a private gallery, a public art
gallery is not expected to turn a profit.
How do you feel about comments made by Jerry Knox and the city's
approach to arts funding through the Capitol Centre?
We were somewhat surprised to see the City take centre stage, something it had
earlier indicated it was reluctant do. But the situation on the ground has
changed rapidly since, and it is satisfying to have fully engaged the City’s
interest. Whatever their approach, we have no reason to doubt that it is
anything but sincere. We welcome their involvement.
Regardless of the City’s current views, all of the constituent members of the arts
community must eventually unite and take the lead themselves by presenting its
case directly to those who make the decisions. With or without an official
cultural plan, only the arts community has the energy and vision for advancing
North Bay’s cultural life.
Will you bringing the motion back to the table and if so, when can you
do this?
In retrospect, our motion was dead on arrival. Although we believe it was
absolutely the right approach, DNR is the order of the day.
Any other comments you would like to add?
The Board claimed it had only two days to study our single-page, 6-paragraph
motion. That was misleading at best. In truth, the Board had 6 months to study
the underlying plan outline which was the foundation for our motion. The Board
could have formed the special committee itself months ago which we urged
them to do in accordance with rules in the Capitol Centre bylaw. Instead they
resorted to a ‘divide and conquer’ strategy which, as you witnessed at the AGM,
enjoyed considerable success.
top related