The struggles of the Glenbow

Former staff allege mismanagement, but museum blames the economy
Published July 19, 2012  by Suzy Thompson in News

Despite some big name shows, including Brian Eno, the Glenbow is struggling.

Is something rotten at the Glenbow Museum? Three years of budget cutbacks matched by unprecedented deficits seem to indicate a problem. Senior management says the museum’s financial issues are the result of “cataclysmic” global economic conditions. Former staff members say, “no,” the blame lies with “incompetent” directors.

The Glenbow’s financial records show that for years the museum ran with minor budget deficits or surpluses ranging from $2,000 to negative $41,000. Then, starting in 2009 and continuing in 2010 and 2011, the yearly deficits averaged $1.4 million. In those same years, paid attendance, fundraising and general revenues also dropped significantly. The museum’s board of directors tried to mitigate the losses by cutting spending by several hundred thousand dollars per year and approving extra withdrawals from the Glenbow’s Eric Harvie Endowment Fund, though these actions have scarcely covered the difference between cash flowing in and that flowing out.

Board chair Jack Thrasher says the museum has been hit with a series of problems over which it had no control.

“2008/2009 was a fairly cataclysmic year from an economic standpoint, as you recall, and so we dealt with trying to do what we could as far as trying to retain our programs and maintain our offerings to the public.... Just when it looked like the economic side of things were starting to be restored, the problems in Europe came on the screen,” says Thrasher. “And now you’re also facing challenges in the energy business from a commodity pricing standpoint... [And] we had an opportunity to host an exhibit called Terra Cotta Warriors,” he adds. Thrasher says that exhibition would have been “a tremendous opportunity to give us a boost,” but was cancelled at the last minute by the Chinese government.

Thrasher’s explanation runs contrary to staff allegations. Five current and former Glenbow staff members spoke on condition of anonymity with Fast Forward Weekly about working at the museum and what they believe is wrong.

One staff member, who left earlier this year, shared their letter of resignation with Fast Forward Weekly. In it, the employee cites a lack of “professionalism” in senior management and HR and accuses the museum of spending money that it doesn’t have, resulting in a poor financial situation, and calls out certain senior managers for being “incompetent.” The former employee writes that they could not, “in good conscience” continue to contribute to the operations of the museum.

Another former employee sent a letter of complaint to the board of directors, the receipt of which, they say, was never acknowledged.

“After 13 years of working under four different presidents, I could no longer support the immensely over-inflated ego, insecurity and immaturity of Glenbow’s senior-most executive,” it reads.

In regards to these complaints, Thrasher and treasurer Mike Robinson say the board has “received confidential documents.”

“I think they were all anonymous, and expressed as being confidential,” says Thrasher. “In a general sense, we review [a complaint] with the CEO and with the board.... I could tell you, on that basis I’m quite satisfied we dealt with them in the appropriate way.”

Those who spoke with Fast Forward Weekly roundly criticized museum president Kirstin Evenden, vice presidents and the board of directors for allegedly mismanaging operations and finances, ignoring staff concerns and allowing nepotism that, at the very least, makes many uncomfortable.

Evenden took over as president and CEO in 2009, the same year Glenbow finances took a disastrous turn. Since then, her husband and brother-in-law have been promoted to the positions of museum IT manager and new media coordinator, respectively. Also in that time, a significant number of long-term staff members resigned, including the manager of volunteer resources, who was there for 12 years, the senior manager of finance, who was there for 13, and the chief financial officer, who was there for 15 years.

Evenden says staff turnover at the Glenbow is on par with turnover at non-profit organizations across the province, based on statistics from the Boland Report  — an annual survey of salaries and HR practices in the not-for-profit sector. She says the museum lost 12 employees out of roughly 100 between January and June of 2012, as it did in the same period last year. She also says senior employees are not leaving at a disproportionate rate, but rather “it’s a full range of positions that turn over on a regular basis.”

She says she is not aware of staff complaints and hasn’t been formally informed of complaints received through the organization, though the museum has initiated policies to encourage staff to “dialogue” with management about problems, and conducts annual employee satisfaction surveys.

Concerns about nepotism are baseless, she explains, because both her husband and brother-in-law were employed at the museum before she became the CEO, and she was not involved in the hiring or promotions processes that landed them in their current positions.

“A review of the procedure — the hiring — procedure was conducted by the board of governors,” she says. “Neither of these individuals have ever worked for me and I never hired them and I actually never worked with them in the museum.”

Evenden’s explanation for the museum’s woeful financial situation concurs with Thrasher and Robinson — the global economic crisis and the loss of the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit compounded losses and forced the museum to run at a deficit for the time being.

Former Glenbow employees speaking with Fast Forward Weekly argue complaints were not anonymous and that staff have been asked to voluntarily cut back hours and wages while the salaries of the top three executives amounts to roughly $350,000. They also allege that fundraising efforts such as the PIVOT membership program cost far in excess of what they raise.

It remains to be seen what shape the Glenbow Museum will be in when the financial statements for the 2011/2012 fiscal year are made public. Evenden says that while they will not be made public until the annual general meeting in September, “what I can tell you is that last year we saw a 30 per cent growth in the overall fundraising revenues, the year-on-year from the year previous; and we had a 10 per cent increase in our membership.”

 


Comments: 55

artsguy wrote:

Evenden is a master of spin and Jack, well twisted responses as to be expected from a lawyer with his back to the wall. Firstly, hubby and B-I-L were low level employees prior to her appointment. Evenden doesn't say that she is also a long term employee, and incredibly SINCE she became CEO they both magically but without any of her influence (yah right) have moved to senior, highly paid positions. Nothing suspicious there...and her comment that fundraising is up 30% sounds impressive, until you see where they started. 30% more of practically nothing isn't a lot. Bottom line is the Glenbow is virtually penniless due to gross mismanagement and greed of top execs pulling in huge incomes, yet they struggle to meet payroll. There are more debt issues than are being discussed here. Kudos to Suzy for bringing this to light - as Calgarians we deserve a healthy and respected Glenbow, not a weak, stumbling, nepotisim filled comedy.

on Jul 19th, 2012 at 7:42am Report Abuse

ACAD101 wrote:

I have heard all about the Glenbow and the lack of respect they have for artists! It makes me sick to think that the upper management is robbing the museum blind! As an art student, I am so dissapointed in the board of directors. They should be helping the art community. Not helping it's collapse. I have also heard around the art community that the Glenbow never actually had a contract with the Chinese government for Terra Cotta. I call bull!

on Jul 19th, 2012 at 9:34am Report Abuse

InterestedCalgarian wrote:

And the execs at Glenbow wonder why they never got one penny in the Cultural Capital 2012 city grants??? The City of Calgary seems to know the story....wonder when the Province is going to wake up as well....

And the comments about upper exec salaries seem to be true ....it's all public information: check out CRA's Website

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/menu-eng.html

Go to Registered Charities, enter Glenbow Alberta Institute and then go through the tax returns, etc for 2011.

Really sad...especially in light of them seeking voluntary retirement and hour reductions from the staff. Anyone want to bet they probably give themselves bonuses, too?

There are MANY of us former staff members who are cheering today...and we've been gone for longer than this past year. Well done current and former staff who had the nerve to speak up. And not because of bitterness either, as I'm sure some are thinking.

Any reporter with basic research skills can add to the list of the three managers noted in the article...it's no secret all the people who have left and what their positions were. We all genuinely love the museum. Calgarians, sit up and take notice...a cultural icon needs to shine brightly once again!

on Jul 19th, 2012 at 3:30pm Report Abuse

Snowjob wrote:

If you are a Glenbow member you should be outraged. If you are a Glenbow donor you should be asking where your money is going. To pay for the inflated salaries of management and for parties that don’t raise a dime while programming declines. When all the finance people walk out the door in the space of a few months and the board doesn’t even bother to ask why, you know an organization is in deep trouble. And the board’s answer to the deficit is to take more money from the endowment. Eric Harvie is rolling in his grave.

on Jul 19th, 2012 at 7:24pm Report Abuse

Donorsbeware wrote:

I agree with Snowjob that donors and various government funding levels need to step back until there has been some very serious changes to the current senior management and board structure. I love supporting the arts and culture but with the alleged misappropriation of funds at the Art Gallery of Calgary and now this explosive information about the Glenbow by current and past employees, it makes you question aloud as to what is happening at Glenbow! Dont believe the Glenbow spin and the employee issued FAQs!

on Jul 19th, 2012 at 8:45pm Report Abuse

ThisIsUnbelievable! wrote:

So the letters of resignation and complaint went directly to the Board...saying specifically they aren't anonymous and citing serious issues with the CEO.

And yet Thrasher says, “I think they were all anonymous."

Hw can they be anonymous, Jack???

And then he says, “In a general sense, we review [a complaint] with the CEO and with the board...." but EVENDEN says 'she is not aware of staff complaints and hasn’t been formally informed of complaints received through the organization.'

How can you review with the CEO,Jack, but the CEO isn't aware of any complaints. About herself????

Oh, I know...same way Evenden says that staff who left were due to "turnover that happens at a regular rate"...yet the three who are cited in the article were there 12, 13 and 15 years.

And wouldn't any self-respecting leader be a bit more concerned about "regular turnover" no matter what the positions were?

Is anyone else seeing a bit of a pattern here?



on Jul 19th, 2012 at 9:18pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

Congrats to those who spoke up!

on Jul 19th, 2012 at 9:31pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

How many of upper management took the package or reduced hours? Or is that only for staff beneath them??? How many "expensive" parties have been thrown to lure in people with a loss to the museum? Turn-over for employees has been astronomical - educated people have been let go, laid off or have quit while others with little to no skills have been put into positions they are not qualified for!! I feel sad for those left there who have to work in such bad conditions and under substandard leadership!!!

on Jul 19th, 2012 at 9:47pm Report Abuse

OMG AKA WTF wrote:

Some astute observations, and some conjecture. I'm no fan of the current management, but serious problems at the Glenbow started well before 2009. This management team simply managed to blow them out of the water.

But yes, a lot of very talented and experienced people are regularly passed over or shown the door in this place, in favor of astonishingly mediocre, inexperienced personnel. One can only assume they're easier to keep in line, though the museum ultimately pays the price.

It will be interesting to see how the recently closed competition for Visitor Experience Manager goes. The last Manager was solicited by the VP mentioned in Elaine T's entry (coincidentally also the manager's close friend) in the middle of a competition, and offered the job before the competition even closed. Nepotism? Possibly. Questionable practice? Most definitely.

Very sad to see such an important institution go through this, especially when there are some incredibly dedicated, honest and talented people soldiering on in the shadows of this nonsense.

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 1:06am Report Abuse

ACAD101 wrote:

Does the Glenbow have anything to say? Or are they just going to hide in a corner until this all blows over?

It's on our radar now and although we are students, there are lots of us, we are young and have lots of time this summer to make sure everyone we know stops supporting the Glenbow until the management is gone.

I am taking it on as a personal goal to get the corrupt management out of the arts. We deserve better!!!

Ans WE WILL GET BETTER!

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 9:58am Report Abuse

Lady Rose wrote:

Of course people don't get promoted in the Glenbow based on talent/experience, etc. It's a union! Promotion etc happens based on seniority. I don't think you can put the blame for that on management. If anything their job is incredibly difficult being saddled with ridiculous union baggage. Any other organization could have taken steps earlier to reduce expenses to try and match up the revenue hits they were taking from their endowment fund.

Has anyone here even looked at their financial statements? How have their expenses changed in comparison to previous years? The huge hits their endowment fund took during the recession? What percentage of their operation budget is accounted for from their endowment fund?

Given that this non-profit has publicly available financial statements I'm a little surprised this article makes absolutely no efforts to do any dissection of said financial statements.

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 1:28pm Report Abuse

Suzy Thompson wrote:

I appreciate fair criticism of my work, but yours isn't it, Lady. If you had taken the time to read past the first paragraph of this article you would have seen that I obviously read the financial statements, in fact the averages cited are drawn from every year's financials beginning with 2003. If you are too pressed for time to read the entire article then perhaps your questions can be answered by reading those reports yourself.

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 1:43pm Report Abuse

ThisIsUnbelievable! wrote:

Lady Rose, yes there is indeed a union environment at Glenbow. And the union there does the best job it can (with limited power) to made executive follow the collective agreement. But if you'll also take the time to re-read the article you'll see that the issue is with the management - the senior management in particular. Which is NOT unionized. Hence the problems with best friends hiring best friends, or managers being shown the door, or passed over easily - there are NO union processes covering off that group of people. Which is the same in any organization for exempt or management employees. Anyone with a grain of sense would see that.

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 1:52pm Report Abuse

former employee wrote:

Most of the people who work at the Glenbow are totally devoted professionals with a real passion for their field. A decision to resign from the museum is not taken lightly and is made under extreme duress.  In a severely understaffed institution, I  was insanely overworked. But that was not what prompted me and so many others like me to leave. It was, as the article suggests, the incompetent, mean-spirited and abusive actions and attitudes of senior management. Kirsten Evenden faced a real crisis when she was appointed in early 2009, coming on the heels of the tornado that was the previous president Jeff Spalding. But she quickly proved to be even worse and has led the museum to its current unprecedented low. For example, she  appointed someone with absolutely no experience in the field  to the highly paid position of VP of fund- raising,  a irresponsible action that damaged funding  for years. Her best friend Melanie Kjorlein virtually runs the museum with almost all operations reporting to her. She in turn has appointed her own friends with disastrous consequences. And so it goes. And, it should also be noted that even though the Glenbow's strategic plan says that art should be its primary focus, the museum does not have a permanent art curator on staff.

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 2:11pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

It would also benefit to overhaul the BOG! It was easy for previous BOG to blame Jeff Spalding for the Glenbow problems, they hired him, they let him run the museum it was only until things got so bad that they finally did something about it! The board accepted no responsibility for their choices - only to save face I believe - they had a scapegoat to blame in JS!

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 5:14pm Report Abuse

concerned taxpayer wrote:

Because the Alberta Government, on behalf of all Albertans, are responsible for the financial care, maintenance, and support of all collections entrusted under the secure care of Glenbow Museum, and all donations (financial & collection materials) and most of these collections do not have sufficient in-house curators to efficiently maintain and care for the diverse, large collections housed within this organization, I challenge the Alberta Government to step up to the plate and get involved, to initiate a full investigation of "really" where is our tax dollar being spent?, is there "really" sufficient curatorial staff to supervise, care & maintain and secue this large diverse collection, and where is the actual money being spent from Alberta tax dollars being spent .... is this money "really" being spent on the collections, or is this money begin spent on programs that are curated by other national & international museums, to bring in these programs, and how much tax dollars are being spent on executive management salaries ... why are Glenbow management salaries higher than most Alberta MLA's and the premier of Alberta???? If this is an organization entrusted to care for collections on behalf of Albertans, why are management salaries so high? Why are families, relatives, friends being hired into management positions to benefit from tax dollars, when the collections do not have sufficient curatorial staff to care & maintain such a large diverse collection (that belong to Albertans) ... The Alberta Government and Alberta Tax Payers should be reading the full Agreement between Alberta Government and the Glenbow and investigate the percentage of tax dollars are "really" being spent .... I challenge the Alberta Government to get involved "immediately", to do a full investigation, to take over the management and operations of Glenbow organization, closing the doors temporarily if necessary, to get to the bottom of such an irresponsible abuse of tax payers dollars .... the public forget that they have control over these collections, and it is time the Alberta Government step up and take control, and stop allowing such abuse of tax dollars that have been entrusted and mismanaged by this organization .... Allison Redford needs to educate herself and read this agreement, and then initiate a full investigation ... to "clean house" of all over-paid management staff, to ensure tax payer dollars are actually being spent totally on the care & maintenance of all these collections that belong to Albertans. What is Glenbow really spending tax payers dollars on? And why do they not have sufficient curatorial staff (in ratio to collections) to care & maintain these collections. These collections sit in storage and tax payers never get to see them, or learn the history of all these collections, how many education programs are based on the history of these collections in storage .... how much money is made from in-house collections in storage .... Why does the Alberta Government continue to entrust all of these collections under the care of Glenbow when tax payer dollars are not responsibly being spent on these collections .... Is it time for Alberta Government and Albertans to remove these diverse and valuable collections from under Glenbow's care, and move them to another Alberta Trustee (organization) who will be more responsible for the care & maintenance of these collections .... ie. divide the collections to move to smaller Alberta museums around the province .... it seems obvious that Glenbow has not spent tax payer dollars on these collections ... If the main focus of Glenbow's goals is on exhibitions from national and international museums, then maybe it's time for that department of Glenbow be separated from the core collection departments, and move Albertan's collections to museums that will focus their priorities on these collections, and not just allow them to sit in storage and collect dust .... let us see if our Alberta Government will step up to the plate and start investigating, which means the Government send a team of their staff to set up camp in-house at Glenbow (set up offices) to supervise the ongoing day to day operations ... to sit in on all management, board, and staff meetings, for a number of months (not just a quick fix) ... but to really work on-site to investigate the "real" management, care, and maintenance of the collections, on behalf of Alberta Tax Payers!!!! If the Government doesn't get involved, then the media should further investigate to get to the bottom of the "real story".

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 6:16pm Report Abuse

OUTRAGED! wrote:

Hey InterestedCalgarian, thanks for the CRA tip. I did some quick calcs and based on the T3010 report if you average the compensation of the highest salary between the low ($160k) and hi($199k) range, you get $180k for the projected annual salary of the Glenbow Pres plus perks. If the Board, DONORS or the government funders, TAXPAYERS think they are getting value for money for her "leadership" in the last three years for close to $4M dollars in losses, give or take a couple of hundred thousand between donors and taxpayers, then so be it. Personally, I think the Board has to be accountable for their decision!!! I'm just saying...
One word "AUDIT"!

on Jul 20th, 2012 at 9:20pm Report Abuse

MJM wrote:

Thank you to Suzy Thompson for bringing the problems of the Glenbow to light. As a former Glenbow member I am both shocked and saddened to read of the appalling state of affairs at one of this city’s great treasures. In the past few years I have watched as popular programs have disappeared and seen the decline of public interest in the museum. Some time ago I brought these concerns to the attention of the Vice President of development at one of the member functions but she did not seem very interested in what the members have to say. After it became apparent to me that the management was not interested in the museum’s supporters I did not renew my membership and have since withdrawn my annual contribution. I can only hope that now this shameful situation is under the microscope that some changes can be made and our beloved museum can be restored to the people who cherish it.

on Jul 21st, 2012 at 10:44am Report Abuse

KeepitReal wrote:

This article is not about the Arts rather it is seems more about a few very disgruntled past employees. Is it possible that the Museum is making the changes it needs by getting rid of the people it needs to in order to move in the right direction? I think you are criticizing that which you are all asking for. It is not the courage of those whom have left that should be celebrated rather those competent ones that have stayed under Govt, Board and Public scrutiny for years to work hard and be committed to keeping this institution alive and well. have we forgetten about the many news stories of many not for profits hurting with the lack of donations?

Plus have you seen the salaries of Exec in Not for Profits recently? I am guessing not. These averages are not mind blowing. Accountability takes time. The Board probably has it right and there are some very respected names on that list. Take a look some time and see before you throw people that have been very active in the Arts Scene for years under the bus.

So easy to criticize those from the luxury of a key board and anonimity.

on Jul 21st, 2012 at 8:27pm Report Abuse

OUTRAGED! wrote:

If KeepitReal feels paying the CEO of a nonprofit $180k+ (as per the CRA reports) for losing close to a $1.5 M average for each of the last three years is justified and laying off employees, then you are right. But I am guessing not! Don't believe the spin unless you know the facts.

on Jul 21st, 2012 at 8:45pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

The institution of the museum is in fact NOT alive and well! Losing $1.5 M per year over the last 3 years while senior management rake in over $180k+ then demanding staff either reduce their hours or take "voluntary" separation packages is absurd! Did management make the step to reduce their pay to show their willing to do their part to help the museum! NO, of course not! Does throwing lavish parties at Hotel Arts for Pivot members, while losing money make sense? Does having "Pay What you Can" parties while the museum provides food & alcohol make sense when you losing money? Concerns from overworked, underpaid, understaffed employees are either ignored or are told "don't question management". With such losses how can management blames the economy? Senior management & the board choices have brought about the current conditions the museum now face! It's time to hold senior management and the board accountable for the mess they have contributed to making at the museum! CRA reports don't lie and the public won't be made fools of by senior managements cries of "We have done nothing wrong" . It's time to step up to the plate and make your wrongs right!

on Jul 21st, 2012 at 10:03pm Report Abuse

Wanda Fuca wrote:

Keep It Real's post smacks of a Strategy Group hack. Who says Stephen Harper's is the only government that deploys its thugs to the internet.

As for (a) "criticiz(ing) those from the luxury of a key board and anonimity" ... first, it's spelled anonymity, and (b) people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

on Jul 21st, 2012 at 11:05pm Report Abuse

InterestedCalgarian wrote:

Sorry, KeepItReal....the facts don't lie. Far too many people in the community have had the misfortune of being trampled underfoot by this current senior team.And not just staff either.

And if refusing to put up with it any longer, chosing to leave rather than handle the stress, worry, insults and unprofessionalism makes a very LONG list of eductated, experienced, knowledgable, and respected in their own right individuals "disgruntled" - you must keep yourself awfully busy shining up your own halo, 'cause you'd be a saint to put up with it yourself.

And if you care to look them up - because they are everywhere in this city - you will see that these...umm..."disgruntled employees" have gone on to bigger, better and much more satisfying careers. The Glenbow's loss has been many non-profit organizations' gain.

Chosing to leave when you've fought all you can fight does not make anyone "disgruntled." But it also doesn't mean they still care deeply for the museum - and yes, the co-workers who still work there.

This article IS about the arts - the Glenbow Museum is one of this city - no, this province's - greatest treasures. The legacy that Eric Harvie left to all of us deserves far, far better that this bunch who fancy themselves "leaders" - with obviously disasterous results. The Eric Harvie Endowment cannot sustain the continual extra draws - basic accounting will show anyone that truth - and it's clear by simply reading the published annual reports that admission, fundraising and donations have dropped alarmingly during Evenden's tenure.

And if the President and Vice Presidents aren't directly responsible for that, who do suggest should be? They can't continue to blame the economy - there are a great many non-profits in Calgary that have weathered the storm, changed direction, created successful partnerships and developed a realistic plan for sustainability.

A real leader would publicly admit when such huge mistakes have been made - and for the good of the organization they profess to care for, step aside so someone much more qualified can try and salvage this mess. I doubt any of them, Board or Senior Executives, run their own businesses or households with the level of deficits the museum has sustained these past years. So why do they think it's okay to do it with an institution they have a duty of obligation to care for?

Oh....And as for those "respected names" on that list?
Just because they style themselves as "respected leaders," does not make it so. Believe me when I say, they lost any respect they had from many, many people a long time ago.

If a public shaming is what it takes to make things get better...then so be it. They deserve every tire mark from that bus that they get.

on Jul 21st, 2012 at 11:26pm Report Abuse

concerned taxpayer wrote:

Suzy, you are on the right track ... need to dig a bit deeper, go back a few years to uncover the foundation of such financial abuse .... go back to 2000 and get to understand what creative accounting really means, and executive management travel and expense accounts, promoting their own personal agendas and portfolios .... the spin really begins .... and it just continues to develop over years, and the unqualified and unexperienced staff carry on the same management behaviours .... things will not change until government intervention steps up to the plate, remove all the management friends & family staff members and bring in a new management team that don't have any friends & family and no personal agendas .... former presidents are not exempt ... creating management positions for their friends before leaving the organization, promoting them into newly creative positions, from union positions to higher salary management positions, and still there collecting these high salaries, all friends taking care of friends .... you cannot image the elite school girl groupies, all should be ashamed for collecting such high salaries, greedy desire for power ... some have been there forever, and still continue to contaminate operations, and in denial of the abuse they contribute .... trying to keep a low profile when things don't go well, and yet contributing to the abuse of power and financial deficit .... it's a clicky, elite group of school girls .... who continue to behave what they learned from previous management executives .... passed from one generation to the next, and so on .... they have been getting away with this behaviour for many years, and the government and tax payers are not holding these people accountable .... tax payer should be on top of management like they would politicians who abuse tax dollars .... same situation .... it's abuse and misuse of tax dollars and public donor donations .... so dig deeper .... the story is in the creative accounting financial records ....

on Jul 22nd, 2012 at 12:07am Report Abuse

OUTRAGED! wrote:

Hey concerned taxpayer, have you read between the lines and asked why the two senior accounting positions at the Glenbow left the organization within months of each other this year? Is it possible the two very long term staff members were actually ETHICAL and didnt agree with what they were being told to do??? I also hear a third accounting position left the organization in that same time period. Things that make you go "hmmm...".

on Jul 22nd, 2012 at 9:31am Report Abuse

concerned taxpayer wrote:

Yes Outraged, and so you should be outraged, it's unacceptable what has been going on ... I got it, agree and understand ... the ones who have left are the "ethical" ones .... it's the long-time elites, still there, that contribute to unethical behaviours. However, I doubt the government will step in and investigate, as they don't really care about the collections, they have never really been interested ... government hands-off approach is why things in such disastrous mess .... it's the taxpayer who needs to demand a public inquiry, to investigate if our tax dollars are really being spent on collection staff and care of collections per the legal agreement .... It would also be interesting to know just how many board members have read the agreement and if they have any interest in the collections, have they actually seen all the collections in storage, and what do they really know about the collections .... usually board are only there to promote their own personal agendas and portfolios .... and not really interested in discovering just how special the collections really are .... the story and history of collections is being lost and forgotten .... and why keep collecting and spend money on new acquisitions when they just go into storage and never seen or utilized .... so why does the government keep allowing new purchases when there is such a huge debt .... I don't think Allison Redford knows that these collections are owned by Albertans, and that the government has a responsibility to ensure the care and safe keeping of these collections .... governments are more interested in oil than they are in the arts and culture .... the most responsible thing to do at this point is a public inquiry to find out exactly how public tax dollars are being spent with this organization .... anything less than that is just sweeping things under the rug, and allowing the current management to continue with gross misuse of public and donor funds.

on Jul 22nd, 2012 at 4:31pm Report Abuse

Long Time Coming wrote:

As a former staff member, I'm very glad this has all finally come out into the open, and I agree 100% about all comments on mismanagement of the organization. However, this has been endemic for the past two decades - it is not a recent phenomenon. Just when you think things at Glenbow can't possibly get any worse, they do.

The main problem is that Glenbow is constantly trying to overreach itself. Rather than working within its means, management has "pie in the sky" dreams that waste staff time and financial resources - things like moving to a new building or completely changing the existing one to the tune of many (nonexistant) millions of dollars. And every time management changes, the direction of the institution changes. This also wastes valuable time and resources and is confusing to the public. For the last few years, Glenbow has also been trying to keep up an insupportable pace of temporary exhibits in spite of an ever-decreasing staff complement and dwindling finances.

Management needs to start working within its means - both staff and financial.

But the Board is equally complicit in the mismanagement. For about the last decade it has been directing operations far more than it should be - Glenbow should have a pure governance board. For much of this period the Board has been composed primarily of oil and gas CEOs who have tried to run Glenbow as a venture capital organization. Glenbow will NEVER be a money-making investment businesss - this goes against the definition of NOT-FOR-PROFIT!!! DUH!!!

But there is hope. Recently there have been some appointments to the Board who are not CEOs - academics, for instance. This is moving towards what Glenbow's board used to be, prior to 1996. Prior to that time, Glenbow appointed half of the board and the province appointed the other half. Glenbow usually appointed CEOs, but the province appointed academics, museum professionals, veterans, and just concerned citizens who provided a conscience and a balance for the board. This worked very well.

Glenbow needs to re-negotiate the contract with the province to go back towards this board structure. The 1996 contract was designed to give Glenbow greater "independence" from the province. Clearly this has not worked, either financially or strategically. It is time to return to a structure that worked.

As to former staff members, there are not just a handful of disgruntled folks. There are MANY of us out there, and we ALL still care very much about Glenbow. At one Alberta Museums Association think tank I looked around the room and noted that, although there were only 1 or 2 reps from Glenbow itself, fully 80% of the people in the room had worked at Glenbow at one time or another. Glenbow is a great place to have learned the trade, and many talented people have gone on to successful - and happy - careers on "the outside". Unfortunately, it is an insufferable place to continue to work, where one worries on a weekly basis about being laid off and where it is not possible to blossom and grow due to the highly controlling attitude of management.

on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 1:09pm Report Abuse

ACAD101 wrote:

I really think that it is important that the union staff at the Glenbow do something about there management. Maybe a strike is in order? Or at least another artical from the point of biew of the staff member who is making nothing and waiting to be laid off. All the while upper management is making a killing!

on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 1:16pm Report Abuse

Long Time Coming wrote:

An important point that I want to make,as a separate point so it is not missed, is that the PROVINCE is a HUGE part of the problem here. Glenbow has been asking - begging, even - for the past two decades for increased annual support from the province. This has not been forthcoming (other than minor increases), and in some years the contribution was actually reduced in spite of a written contractual agreement (thank you Ralph Klein). The current contribution is not far off from where it was 20 years ago, and has DEFINITELY not kept up with Cost of Living. The staff at Glenbow ran a public awareness campaign a number of years ago to try to get the public to shame the province into increasing funding to ALL museums, but under the current administration I fear this will not happen. The province has several billion dollars in the aptly named HERITAGE trust fund that could easily be tapped for this purpose. It may be useful for the province to review Glenbow's operations, yes, but if the province is going to step in, it also needs to STEP UP.

on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 1:16pm Report Abuse

FlyonWall wrote:

Glenbow’s gross mismanagement is obvious to anyone who has cared to notice it’s programming in recent years. The Board Chair in this article notes that the Chinese government’s canceling of the Terracotta Warrior exhibition is one big factor in Glenbow’s financial troubles. Well, better he then I to blame China in the current world climate, though I doubt China cares what Glenbow thinks… Still, let us remember the important concept here: Blockbuster exhibitions COST money – a lot of money. The Glenbow was projecting revenue and budget based on how many people might have come see Terracotta Warriors. This is like the Alberta government planning budgets on what the price of oil might be. Though planning based on oil price is precedented at least.

Terracotta warriors as a blockbuster would have come with a rental fee of $200 000 minimum, probably closer to $500, 000 once shipping was added in, and not to mention marketing. What business does a museum have risking that sort of money against projected admission revenue in a financial downturn?

After Terracotta fell through, Glenbow gave the city a splashy Brian Eno show and even brought the star to Calgary, in tandem with High Performance Rodeo, but still no doubt a big cost. The museum bent on this mission for endless blockbuster exhibitions continued to shell out for high $$ exhibits like the exemplary, but local flop “Watch Me Move the animation show” from London’s Barbican Museum. Did anyone see the marketing for that? If there’s a strong case for mismanagement just look at that ad campaign - a visual failure utterly.

How about the recent Lori Anderson exhibition? Anderson is unequaled in her genre and it was exciting to see her come to Calgary, but since when is she a visual artist to be exhibited? Her art appealed to a small audience and no doubt had high costs associated to Glenbow considering the artist came to the city and installed the exhibit.

The museum’s recent insistence on a visual arts program is admirable, yet the exhibitions they are programming don’t reflect that commitment. This is echoed no doubt by the loss of several art curators over the past 3-4 years who surely objected to exhibitions, workload and marketing minded mentality of the museum. Who is making the decisions about these blockbusters? What is the programming policy? Does anyone know? Is there any transparency? Is there an art curator there now to lead this ambitious vision of a visual art mandate? Given what gets put on when there are good curators in house it likely doesnt matter - I doubt the curator's have much voice. Marketing has been known to run the museum's programming for over a decade {except during the brief reign of Jeff Spalding}.

How about February’s big Schamantzy fundraising event Glenbow hosted? How much did they pay to bring CBC’s Gian Gomeshi for that private event? It was a decked out gala that must have had a big seed budget – much like the regular Launch Parties with noted local musicians cost but dont earn revenue {these are PWYC}. Bad financial choices obvious in these listed above and no doubt there are more.

This FFWD article mentions long time employees who have resigned - add to that speculation about further employees who disappeared without explanation. Former CEO Jeffery Spalding is just one prominent example of this sort of HR mismanagement, there are several others.

...AND if rumors in the art scene are to be believed – from past and current employees, the union gets 2 complaints per month average about Glenbow workplace practices, e.g. salary, over work, harassment. No doubt these are reasons why some uncounted past employees no longer work there.

The shame is, the museum plus the library and archives have a spectacular collection. Instead of blockbuster exhibitions maybe one day the public will get to see some of these items on temporary exhibit in their own museum - you know, the things that belong to us as a public trust?

Hope someone cleans house over there!

Fly on the Wall

on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 4:24pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

The original flyonwall did not post the comment just made above!!!! Whoever made the post STOP using my post name!!!!!

on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 6:56pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

Yes you made some good comments and observation but don't use my post name already established....

on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 7:02pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

My apologies flyonwall(2) no harm!!! You made some really good points!! Keep on posting!!!! :-)

on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 7:36pm Report Abuse

fedupmember wrote:

I agree with MJM, send a message to the Board and DO NOT RENEW your membership until changes have been made. I am ashamed for the Harvie family!!!

on Jul 24th, 2012 at 8:17pm Report Abuse

another-disgruntled-employee wrote:

@ Kirstin Evenden, Melanie Kjorlien, & Members of the Board:
You reap what you sow.

on Jul 24th, 2012 at 11:18pm Report Abuse

FlyonWall wrote:

sorry to other fly on wall. made the name before i read comments. let's say great minds think alike. wont be posting again. thx for your good input here.

fow2-monday post

on Jul 25th, 2012 at 2:16pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

Fow2 no problem! Keep posting! You made some great observations and very good points! A lot of us agree with you!!! I've seen educated, talented people let go due to them speaking their mind to upper management while replacing them with people with no experience! Those with the museums best interest were shown out the door while "YES" men/women stay!!! I've seen previous board chair chastise JS during public events at the museum telling anyone who would listen JS was the sole reason for Glenbow problems! Not one board member ever took responsibility for the museums problems! I guess getting the perks they get makes everything ok to them! I feel sorry for the members who probably have no idea what really goes on! Time for things to be set straight! Time for upper management/board to make things right! How many more people need to be laid off in a place already grossly understaffed? Shame to those who have greatly diminished the Harvie name!!!

on Jul 25th, 2012 at 9:39pm Report Abuse

InterestedCalgarian wrote:

Who's JS? Junior Staff, you mean?

There have also been witnesses see and hear the current VP of fundraising throw one of her own staff members under the bus to a board member about the Schmancy Gala. And that was BEFORE the event. Imagine what she must have said once it failed to make much money due to exhorbitant expenses... Anything to deflect the blame.

It's really too bad this article is going to come off the main page tomorrow....I am sure there are many more people with many more stories to tell.

And has the senior management even responded to the current staff about this article - or are they going to duck and hide - or will they just blame it all on those "disgruntled employees" out there?

Heaven forbid they be caught with some of that dirty laundry finally airing to the public.

on Jul 25th, 2012 at 10:23pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

JS-Jeff Spalding!

on Jul 26th, 2012 at 1:54am Report Abuse

fedupmember wrote:

InterestedCalgarian, my friends at the Glenbow tell me it only made half of its original fundraising goal and they spun it later as a successful "friendraiser". What a load of CRAP! Donors need to realize what is going on with their donations.

on Jul 26th, 2012 at 7:01pm Report Abuse

Education Matters wrote:

This explains a great deal. I used to faithfully bring my students to the museum for field trips, and we were consistently assigned a enthusiastic teacher who taught grade 4/5 Social Studies & Art programs. When he left a few years ago, the educators we were subsequently assigned were inexperienced, uninformed, and acted as if they didn't even like children. We finally stopped booking field trips to the Glenbow a few years ago. Luckily I discovered our favorite teacher working in another Calgary museums and galleries, which we now support.

on Jul 28th, 2012 at 7:25pm Report Abuse

Education Matters wrote:

I would be disgracing my profession if I didn't correct the above to "other Calgary museums and galleries." iPhones and 55 year old eyes are a bad mix.

on Jul 29th, 2012 at 5:27pm Report Abuse

ACAD101 wrote:

The Glenbow is at it again! They have just posted this to there facebook page;

Ever dreamt of touring the Hermitage Museum & collections?

Join Kirstin Evenden, Glenbow’s President and CEO, for an exclusive, 10 day, 8 night behind-the-scenes, scholar-led tour of The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia.

The trip will be hosted by Bob Kaszanits, an internationally recognized expert in the protection and preservation of museum collections. As a former assistant-director of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Mr. Kaszanits received a distinguished service medal from President Putin at a ceremony in the Winter Palace in 2005. Over the past 19 years, Mr. Kaszanits has visited Russia 54 times. His tours are a warm rich experience offering insight to the grand mosaic that is Russia.

YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TRIPS LIKE THIS!!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THIS.

TALK ABOUT A WASTE OF PUBLIC/DONATED MONEY

on Jul 31st, 2012 at 10:43am Report Abuse

InterestedCalgarian wrote:

Pretty unbelievable move, when you consider the dismal state of the finances and the worry the staff is facing about upcoming layoffs.

It must be part of their mandate for public access to their own collections.

Oh no, wait! I's another "fund (and when that fails to make any money)/friend raiser".

Yeah, that's it. Silly me.

One would think the President & CEO would be addressing the internal issues instead of jetting off to Russia...
but then again, this senior management knows best....

Yeah, right.

on Jul 31st, 2012 at 11:11am Report Abuse

@Artoo wrote:

Whaaaaaat?! I could not believe my eyes when I read about this latest extravagant arrogance on the part of Glenbow leadership. While many staff might be facing layoffs and the museum is in dire straits the President is running off on a jaunt to Russia? Too bad it isn't a BUS tour! Shades of Val Cooper.

on Jul 31st, 2012 at 4:52pm Report Abuse

fedupmember wrote:

Acad 101 needs to relax. Their VP Devt has been fleecing the Board for cash as she is unable to raise funds externally through her vast well connected network. So they are just using the Board member's money until they tire of being drained of their funds. So let the President enjoy her time in Russia on the board's dime. To Russia with Love! The board has to learn the hard way, through their own pocketbook.

on Jul 31st, 2012 at 9:15pm Report Abuse

CalgaryOpinion1234 wrote:

Sounds very reminiscent of another Calgary non-profit, the Children's Cottage Society. More stories like this should come to light.

on Aug 1st, 2012 at 8:36am Report Abuse

leanintoit wrote:

lean into it
Boards have one employee to manage the President and CEO it is their responsibility to govern whether it is Glenbow or any other NGO so shades of another uninvolved board not neccessarily a rogue CEO

on Aug 1st, 2012 at 8:35pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

President & CEO must think that's she bulletproof...such nerve for her to be jetting off to Russia for 10 days while her staff bare possible layoffs. The CEO/VP's should be covering their butts after all that has come to light, not showing the public that they don't care about their staff, much unwanted attention regarding their operations and that they can just toss money away for a trip overseas. When is the board going to open their eyes do something regarding the gross mismanagment at the Glenbow. Yes, they are to blame also. But senior management/board are just showing the citizens of Calgary what they want comes first - to heck with the great Institution of the Glenbow and it's loyal staff. For shame President/CEO and senior management.

on Aug 2nd, 2012 at 11:23am Report Abuse

speechlessdonor wrote:

I will be telling my friends in the arts community and my MLA and MP that changes to the BOARD and CEO of the Glenbow need to happen immediately and encourage everyone to stop donating to the museum until there are positive changes! Nice stewardship of our donations and tax dollars when the Glenbow staff face layoffs and the deficit grows bigger and bigger every year! Thanks FFWD and those current and former staff members for having the courage to let the public know.

on Aug 2nd, 2012 at 7:11pm Report Abuse

Fly-on-wall wrote:

How can the Glenbow justify sending their CEO on a trip to Russia when today they are laying off staff!!! What is wrong with the senior management and their board members. Something needs to be done...NOW!!!!!

on Aug 15th, 2012 at 10:56am Report Abuse

InterestedCalgarian wrote:

Suzy, I sure hope you are going to do a follow up story after today's announcement that 14+ employees have been affected by layoffs and hour reductions.

This bunch of incompetent, self-absorbed so-called "Senior Management" have to go. Kirstin Evenden, Melanie Kjorlien, Catherine Harder - if you had any sense of decency, any sense that you are completely over your head and have totally failed in your positions, and more importantly, failed the Glenbow Museum - you'd do the right thing and step aside.

Jack Thrasher and Michael Robinson, Chair and Treasurer - how can you possibly continue to support this behaviour and not call this trio on the carpet and hold them personally responsible? Bet you don't run your own businesses in this manner.

Shameful. I weep for the employees affected today, and those left behind to try and carry on. None of you proud, passionate and dedicated people deserve ANY of this...

on Aug 15th, 2012 at 2:10pm Report Abuse

speechlessdonor wrote:

Jack and the rest of the Board Members of the Glenbow have to stop blaming the economy as other businesses have rebounded since the 2008 economic collapse. The excuses are running thin! DO THE RIGHT THING and clean your home of the self absorbed "senior management"! Donors and governments need to run the other away until "THE RIGHT THING" is done! 14 employees and their families are now suffering the consequences by bad decisions of current senior management and board. As InterestedCalgarian said, it is very shameful. I hope your Director's Liability insurance is paid up to date.

on Aug 15th, 2012 at 7:50pm Report Abuse

outraged wrote:

I hope those being laid off or cut hours have access to the "union grievance", their reviews, their years there, and a good lawyer if all else fails. This is an attempt to justify themselves to the public purse. All in the wrong way, with no regard to the little people (Staff that actually work) and their families. Why did the executive staff take cuts - those would look like they actually were trying to be fair. Or their spouses? Angry!!

on Aug 16th, 2012 at 4:07pm Report Abuse

outraged wrote:

I totally agree with interested calgarian and speechless donor -if the senior management had any sense of decency they would have taken cuts to senior management's pay and leave the employees down the line with jobs intact. Either that, or quit and let someone with better management ability try to right this sinking ship. No more elitist trips in the meantime, do they not see that this sends the wrong message to the public? The public will NOT be impressed with "the hammer" to loyal employees.

on Aug 16th, 2012 at 4:58pm Report Abuse


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