58. Positions available (2)

Published
18 September 1997

As the selection processes head into their final phases, where is the national newspaper on who among or other than the published rumoured candidates might receive widespread support to become the next Director of the National Gallery and Director of The Canada Council?
Though arts community consensus and alternative candidate suggestions are expected on these occasions of greater importance are public discussions on what types of renewed intellectual leadership and cultural expertise are necessary now that the administrative budget has been pared at The Canada Council and the public funding and other financial support for The National Gallery reportedly has been stabilised.
Given the archaic and less than transparent process of hiring Directors at the Canada Council (the appointment is still made by the federal cabinet) there should for example be a debate on whether or not the restructured Canada Council is willing or best able to properly track what the current generations of art producers need in the way of grants, programmes, organisations and institutions.
Having succeeded at making itself a ‘tourist engine’ for a local economy, The National Gallery — a survivor of many controversies, most of which have illuminated its own weaknesses — in turn needs to resolve its educational relationships and responsibilities to the public and thoroughly ascertain to what extent its service obligations to the country’s art collectors, art historians, curators, artists and art students are being met.
Continuing the journalistic initiatives made by the late Stephen Godfrey, The Globe and Mail must provide an adequate, even generous forum for such ongoing federal arts policy discussions and commentaries.