Banff Centre Says 'No Plans' to Privatize

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The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity denies any plans are afoot to privatize the institution, which has long played an important role in arts education.

“For decades, Banff Centre has been a public post-secondary institution and a registered charity, and it will remain so,” the centre says in a statement responding to a recent essay by Donna Kennedy-Glans, a former vice-chair of the board, published in Alberta Views, a regional news magazine.

“There are no plans and there is no mandate to ‘privatize’ Banff Centre,” says the unsigned statement. “Any speculation to the contrary is false.” 

In her essay, Kennedy-Glans describes how she was forced out last summer while undertaking efforts to promote diversity on the board, and also speculates about "the push toward commercialization and the neglect of core arts programming."

The Banff Centre says it has "worked long and hard to develop and deliver fully subscribed and successful online programming" and is committed to “enhancing diversity,” noting “an institution-wide initiative to achieve that is currently in development.”  

It also says the board has a responsibility to ensure a safe and respectful workplace, and “abusive behaviour at any level is not tolerated.” 

In the article, Kennedy-Glans published an email from the chair of the centre's board, Alberta businessman Adam Waterous, that asked her to resign. It cited her "continued failure to adhere to Banff Centre’s Code of Ethics" and her "inappropriate conduct" in interactions with senior management. Kennedy-Glans has said those claims are unfounded.

Source: Banff Centre, Alberta Views