The director of the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Birgit Donker, has been finally put out of her position. The Supervisory Board (RVT) of the Rotterdam museum reports this on Friday evening. The decision follows an internal investigation into the functioning of Donker that the Supervisory Board set after reports about the director. Dark was put on non-active in June because of those reports.
“The Supervisory Board concludes that an irreparable breach of trust has arisen,” the Council said in its statement. The research would show that Donker “repeatedly withheld information or presented it incorrectly”. This information would have to do with, among other things, “the well -being of employees and the culture of the organization”.
It is not clear what information it would be. The Supervisory Board does say that it is crucial for its supervisory task that the internal safety can be objectively monitored. “If they are also influenced inadequately by a director-director, there can no longer be a relationship of trust.”
‘Not heard felt’
“With great disappointment I have taken note of the decision of the Supervisory Board,” says Donker in a response on LinkedIn. “I have not heard and felt in the investigation. I do not recognize the conclusions. I consider next steps.”
Donker was director of the Nederlands Fotomuseum since 2018. Earlier she led the Mondriaan Fund, a cultural subsidy provider. Between 2006 and 2010 she was editor -in -chief of NRC Handelsblad. The Nederlands Fotomuseum is currently closed. In September the museum will open its new accommodation in the monumental Pakhuis Santos in Rotterdam.