Ralph Keuning has immediately stopped as director of Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle and Heino. According to the parties, this was done ‘in close consultation with the Supervisory Board’. Keuning is leaving almost five months after it became known that the museum had commissioned an independent investigation into his behavior.
According to the researcher, there was De Fundatie speaks of ’emaciated staff’ and ‘blown employees’ as a result of the harsh management style by the museum director. Staff had complained about Keuning. With Rob Zuidema (Zwolse Theaters), a second director was appointed in February who would interfere with personnel and organization.
Despite calls from the staff for his departure, Keuning himself did not want to resign after he had led the museum for fifteen years. Under his rule, the museum grew into a tourist and cultural attraction for Zwolle and Overijssel.
Career elsewhere
Keuning is leaving now anyway. De Fundatie reports in a press statement that this was done ‘in consultation with the Supervisory Board of Museum de Fundatie.’ ‘With this he wants to make room for a new phase in the development of the museum. He has decided to continue his career elsewhere, including as an independent consultant for various clients.’
Does his departure have to do with the investigation and the complaints about him? “The press statement is very clear and I would like to leave it at that,” Keuning said in a short telephone response late on Tuesday evening. The press statement does state that ‘the organization did not grow along with the exponential growth of the museum’ and that ‘too little attention was paid to personal development and the working atmosphere’.
Advisor role
Keuning does not completely close the door at De Fundatie, however. ‘In order to ensure careful progress and completion of long-term projects for the museum and the region, Keuning will advise and support the management in an external advisory role, including in the plan development of De Rode Loods (a new museum located in the station area of Amsterdam). Zwolle must come, ed.), already planned exhibitions and during fundraising.’
Until a new director/director is found, Rob Zuidema, now interim business director, will be appointed as director. He stays on as ‘quartermaster’. ‘To make a start with the necessary organizational changes’, reports De Fundatie. According to the Supervisory Board – led by Roger van Boxtel – the new director must ‘focus in the first phase on creating a safe and challenging working environment’.