Power Plant Board Resigns in Toronto
The board of directors of Toronto's Power Plant, a leading contemporary art gallery, has resigned en masse amid a leadership struggle with its landlord and primary funder, the Harbourfront Centre, the Globe and Mail reports.
The move comes amid legal wrangling over governance, and Harbourfront's decision to dismiss 12 of the board's 27 members, the Globe said, citing court documents.
The Power Plant and the Harbourfront Centre are closely linked but separate non-profits. The centre employs the gallery's staff and appoints 13 of the board's 27 members. Two other members are Harbourfront employees, and 12 are independently elected.
A departing board member, Richard Lee, told the Globe Harbourfront's move jeopardizes the independence of the gallery.
A media release being circulated on social media, signed by 15 former board members, says the Power Plant's "very existence" is in question. It says there was no consultation about the termination of board members and "nor was any compelling rationale provided."
ARTnews reports that Marah Braye, the CEO of Harbourfront, says the allegations by former board members are "not correct" and "governance and operational concerns that were not being addressed" had been going on for more than a year.
The gallery's director for the last 10 years, Gaëtane Verna, left recently to become executive director at the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University. No replacement has been announced.
Programming and daily operations at the Power Plant are continuing as usual, according to a statement from the gallery.
Sources: Globe and Mail, ARTnews
