Angela Cassie has been acting director of the NGC since July 10, following the resignation of Sasha Suda, who remained in the post for only three years. Ms. Cassie was previously Vice President of Strategic Transformation and Inclusion. In this capacity, she helped implement the museum’s new Strategic Plan, which focuses on greater inclusion and equity, including in the hiring process, the acquisition of works, the organization of exhibitions and public reception. She is the establishment’s first African-Canadian director.
How do you react to the numerous criticisms from employees, ex-employees and even the museum’s former director, Marc Mayer, who spoke of a “major Canadian cultural tragedy” regarding the museum’s recent crisis ?
I don’t want to get into personal attacks. Rather, I want to talk about principles and values that include respect for individuals and welcome open dialogues.
How many people were fired under Ms. Suda or under your leadership? We hear about 20 to 30 positions being eliminated. It’s just ?
I can’t talk about specific human resources cases. But I can say that, yes, we are in the process of transformation and that this transformation requires new capacities from us. We are, with a clear strategic plan, moving the organization forward to create transformative experiences with art.
How do you justify the dismissal of Greg A. Hill, the first curator of Aboriginal art, who nevertheless claims to be very much in tune with the decolonization objectives of the museum?
I cannot speak to the details of his case. With the new Indigenous Voices and Diversity department, we want to support the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples and their voices in the organization. We have established a team to lead these efforts including in the conservation team and to support senior management. There is no similar department in other museums, it is an important investment and a priority for us.
How is the work climate?
I talk to a lot of employees every day. We have made changes in a few departments over the past few months and years. The result shows that the teams are more engaged, with a significant impact on morale and pride in working at the museum. The impact is positive. Our staff is dedicated, individuals continue to contribute at a very high professional level because they are committed to transforming the museum. We are extremely grateful for this professionalism.
How are you going to ease the tensions?
I recognize the very rich history of the museum and have also heard many calls for the modernization and transformation of the organization. There are many voices that for a very long time have been absent in our offices and on our walls. We’ve been hearing for several years that there aren’t enough women artists in our exhibitions, that we haven’t done enough to represent black and racialized artists. It is precisely this work that we are doing to live up to this mission. Our foundation is very solid, but it is time to move forward.
Was the strategic plan, at the heart of this transformation, commissioned by the Ministry of Heritage?
It was not commissioned by the ministry. The board and the museum are responsible for the strategic plan. They recognized the need for a transformation for more accessibility, more openness, more innovation, including digital. The strategic plan helps articulate these goals and measure our progress against the collection and exhibitions.
Is it true that the management of the museum thought of no longer presenting the Riopelle retrospective planned in a year because this artist, male and white, old-fashioned, does not fit into the new diverse objectives?
We are very proud to present an exhibition by Jean-Paul Riopelle. For us it is not to the exclusion of the voices present in our exhibitions. We are not taking away perspectives: we are adding them. We enlarge the space for the benefit of everything and everyone. We can’t wait to inaugurate this Riopelle exhibition in October 2023.
Do you want to become the titular director of the museum?
For the time being, I am happy to take on the interim and I am grateful for the confidence of the board of directors.