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Picasso Museum’s President Is Dismissed Picasso Museum’s President Is Dismissed
(4 months later)
PARIS — The French government dismissed the embattled president of the Musée Picasso on Tuesday amid an employee revolt and a bitter debate over delays in reopening the museum, which has been closed for renovation for almost five years. PARIS — The French government dismissed the embattled president of the Musée Picasso on Tuesday amid an employee revolt and a bitter debate over delays in reopening the museum, which has been closed for renovation for almost five years.
The museum, in a 17th-century building in the Marais district of Paris, will double in size to hold the world’s largest collection of works by Picasso. The reopening was first scheduled for last October, and then postponed to June. This month it was delayed again, until at least September.The museum, in a 17th-century building in the Marais district of Paris, will double in size to hold the world’s largest collection of works by Picasso. The reopening was first scheduled for last October, and then postponed to June. This month it was delayed again, until at least September.
Even that date may be optimistic, however, since the museum does not have contracts for security or the staff of a new restaurant.Even that date may be optimistic, however, since the museum does not have contracts for security or the staff of a new restaurant.
The president, Anne Baldassari, who has led the restoration project for almost all of her tenure as president, appeared at the Culture Ministry on Tuesday. She was offered but declined an alternate position at the museum, one that would put her in charge of the display of paintings, according to a ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak by the French government.The president, Anne Baldassari, who has led the restoration project for almost all of her tenure as president, appeared at the Culture Ministry on Tuesday. She was offered but declined an alternate position at the museum, one that would put her in charge of the display of paintings, according to a ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak by the French government.
   In a scathing statement issued after the meeting, the ministry said that Ms. Baldassari had been  dismissed because of a “gravely deteriorating work environment.” It cited a management review in March by an inspector general who recommended an overhaul because of “profound suffering in the workplace and a toxic atmosphere” that had provoked a series of resignations by high-ranking officials who were vital to the museum’s reopening.    In a scathing statement issued after the meeting, the ministry said that Ms. Baldassari had been  dismissed because of a “gravely deteriorating work environment.” It cited a management review in March by an inspector general who recommended an overhaul because of “profound suffering in the workplace and a toxic atmosphere” that had provoked a series of resignations by high-ranking officials who were vital to the museum’s reopening. 
Her dismissal by the culture minister, Aurélie Filippetti, was the latest chapter in a struggle that had been going on for nearly two years at the Picasso museum. Under Ms. Baldassari’s leadership, two executive directors have departed, one after less than a year. A few months ago, the director of the museum’s reconstruction also quit.Her dismissal by the culture minister, Aurélie Filippetti, was the latest chapter in a struggle that had been going on for nearly two years at the Picasso museum. Under Ms. Baldassari’s leadership, two executive directors have departed, one after less than a year. A few months ago, the director of the museum’s reconstruction also quit.
Ms. Baldassari, 59, is a Picasso scholar who rose through the ranks over two decades to become president of the museum. Her supporters have praised her for helping to secure financing for most of the project during a severe recession by sending works from the collection on tours to museums from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia.Ms. Baldassari, 59, is a Picasso scholar who rose through the ranks over two decades to become president of the museum. Her supporters have praised her for helping to secure financing for most of the project during a severe recession by sending works from the collection on tours to museums from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia.
The ministry appointed a seasoned civil servant, Jérôme Bouët, as temporary president. Ms. Baldassari could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.The ministry appointed a seasoned civil servant, Jérôme Bouët, as temporary president. Ms. Baldassari could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
The museum first opened in 1985 in the former Hôtel Salé. The expansion project, whose budget doubled to almost $70 million, was supposed to be completed in two years when it began in 2009. But as it grew in scope and size, reopening dates were announced and delayed several times. More recently, the Marais neighborhood has been in an uproar over some museum construction that took place without permits.The museum first opened in 1985 in the former Hôtel Salé. The expansion project, whose budget doubled to almost $70 million, was supposed to be completed in two years when it began in 2009. But as it grew in scope and size, reopening dates were announced and delayed several times. More recently, the Marais neighborhood has been in an uproar over some museum construction that took place without permits.
The pressure on Ms. Baldassari intensified this year after she scheduled previews and pledged that the museum would reopen by June. When the minister of culture changed the opening date to September — so that work could be completed under optimal conditions — Claude Picasso, the artist’s son and a member of the museum board, publicly criticized the ministry for dishonoring his father with the delays. Mr. Picasso also insisted that the internal strife was exaggerated.The pressure on Ms. Baldassari intensified this year after she scheduled previews and pledged that the museum would reopen by June. When the minister of culture changed the opening date to September — so that work could be completed under optimal conditions — Claude Picasso, the artist’s son and a member of the museum board, publicly criticized the ministry for dishonoring his father with the delays. Mr. Picasso also insisted that the internal strife was exaggerated.
On Tuesday Christine Pinault, a spokeswoman for Mr. Picasso, said that he continued to defend Ms. Baldassari, insisting that only the president of France, François Hollande, has the right to remove her, though a ministry official said that he would sign off on the dismissal. Ms. Pinault added that pushing out the museum’s leader “cannot solve the museum’s problems magically, like waving a wand.”On Tuesday Christine Pinault, a spokeswoman for Mr. Picasso, said that he continued to defend Ms. Baldassari, insisting that only the president of France, François Hollande, has the right to remove her, though a ministry official said that he would sign off on the dismissal. Ms. Pinault added that pushing out the museum’s leader “cannot solve the museum’s problems magically, like waving a wand.”
Mr. Picasso’s earlier comments about personnel galvanized more than half the museum’s current staff of 45 people to issue a statement over the weekend in which they described a management style marked by favoritism, conflict, mercurial decision making and a lack of communication.Mr. Picasso’s earlier comments about personnel galvanized more than half the museum’s current staff of 45 people to issue a statement over the weekend in which they described a management style marked by favoritism, conflict, mercurial decision making and a lack of communication.
Many of those employees had filled out questionnaires for the Culture Ministry’s review of the museum in March that recommended a management overhaul. In turn, Ms. Baldassari sent a 44-page letter defending her tenure to a local newspaper.Many of those employees had filled out questionnaires for the Culture Ministry’s review of the museum in March that recommended a management overhaul. In turn, Ms. Baldassari sent a 44-page letter defending her tenure to a local newspaper.
“There was nothing in the report from the inspector general that surprised us,” the ministry official said on Tuesday. “This had been going on for several years. The truth is that we could not open a museum with all these employees leaving.”“There was nothing in the report from the inspector general that surprised us,” the ministry official said on Tuesday. “This had been going on for several years. The truth is that we could not open a museum with all these employees leaving.”