Resources Article

Cultural Leaders Championing their Civic Agenda

Who is involved in decision-making, and why? Who isn’t invited to the table? What rights do arts organisations think they have to be leading a civic agenda? There is no way we can start talking about the promotion of civic roles, still less relationships with communities, without addressing the power relations of boards themselves.

I am speaking from my point of view as curator, facilitator and change leader. I have observed how change-making completely breaks down when boards seem to run a completely different organisation to their executive and workforce. I have experienced how enforced opaqueness based on position and status and an ambiguous attitude towards ethical practice thinly veils the dodgy governance of cultural organisations who claim to be sector-leading, deserving of more public funds and worthy beneficiaries of philanthropy.

By Dr. Tehmina Goskar Director, Curatorial Research Centre

Themes Governance