Montreal Museum Reaches Agreement with Ousted Director
Nathalie Bondil (courtesy Ville de Montréal / Sylvain Légaré)
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has reached a settlement with ousted director Nathalie Bondil. No details of the terms or of any financial compensation were announced, and a conciliatory statement on the museum's website says no further comment will be forthcoming.
The statement says that while the museum's board disagreed with Bondil's approach to managing recommendations in a consultant's report about "the deterioration of the workplace environment," she "was not personally the object of any allegation of harassment."
The board, the statement said, was not "calling into question her professionalism or her deep and sincere commitment to the museum."
Bondil acknowledged her being upset at the sudden end in 2020 to her time at the museum, which had seen expansions of its collections and activities and growing international influence under her leadership.
"While I was profoundly hurt, I know that it has also been difficult for all parties involved and in particular for the museum’s employees," she said in the statement. "I wish the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts nothing but success in the future: Thank you for all these extraordinary years."
Bondil is now overseeing collections and exhibitions at the Institut du monde arabe in Paris. Stéphane Aquin has taken over as director of the Montreal museum.
The Montreal museum hired Bondil in 2007 and her departure created turmoil. Museum employees published an open letter supporting the board's decision. Quebec Culture Minister Nathalie Roy launched an inquiry that identified board governance problems.
Bondil filed a $2 million lawsuit against the museum and board chair, Michel de la Chenelière, who has since stepped down, alleging there had been "an intentional campaign of defamation."
Source: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
