Mr. Mayer has not answered the call since firing four of the facility’s officers on Nov. 17. Unconvinced by the arguments of the NGC’s acting director-general, Angela Cassie, he wants the museum’s board, chaired by Françoise Lyon, to comment publicly on the matter.
The one who was at the helm of the museum from 2008 to January 2019 regrets that the firing of luminaries was motivated for reasons we don’t know, that we’ll never know, adding that the current acting general director is hiding behind it [l’argument de] private life.
She has to explain why, but says nothing, adds Herr Mayer, who insists on the abolition of essential positions in every art museum.
Mr. Mayer also questions the fact that we are not introduced to the people who replaced them to see if they are just as competent, arguing that everything is done in secret and undercover. He is concerned about the impact of the loss of know-how related to the recent layoffs, particularly with regard to the museum’s permanent collection.
“I can’t give you numbers, but it’s amazing what this collection represents [du MBAC]. It’s precious, you can’t put a price on it [ces] national treasures […] But who manages that? Who cares today? […] It’s a national scandal. »
— A quote from Marc Mayer, former Executive Director of the NGC
A completely opaque strategic plan
Marc Mayer denounces decisions made according to a completely opaque strategic plan. That’s why he wants to know what [fabrique] Board.
We are told about a strategic plan, but we see exactly the opposite, he continues. He cites new policies that claim to be inclusive but include the ousting of Greg A. Hill, senior curator of Audain’s Indigenous Art Fund.
During his time at the museum’s helm, Mr. Mayer claims he never heard the word decolonization. Nonetheless, he oversaw the redesign of Canada’s galleries, opening spaces for dialogue between Indigenous creators, first-time arrivals and Canadian artists, and organizing consultations with Indigenous elders.
He regrets that the new strategic orientations overshadow the previous work. Among other things, Marc Mayer mentions the great international fifth anniversary of contemporary indigenous art in the world, which took the form of two major exhibitions, Sakahàn (2013) and Abadakoné (2019).
Our Aboriginal artists have invited Aboriginal artists from all over the world to come and celebrate the emergence of their culture, the former general manager recalls, citing the expertise of Greg A. Hill as the linchpin of this project, which is a Team of consultants has built up worldwide.
The NGC declined our request for an interview with Board Chair Françoise Lyon on the grounds that Ms. Cassie is the museum’s spokesperson for institutional affairs, replied the museum’s Senior Officer, Public and Media Relations, in a terse email, Josée – Britain Mallet.
With information from Christelle D’Amours