This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/paris-picasso-museum-staff-sacking-director-anne-baldassari

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Paris Picasso museum staff call for sacking of director Paris Picasso museum staff call for sacking of director
(about 1 hour later)
The reopening of the Picasso museum in Paris, after a €52m (£42m) renovation that took more than five years, should be a cause for celebration. The reopening of the Picasso museum in Paris, after a €52m (£42m) renovation that took more than five years, should be a cause for celebration.
But instead, the museum in the Marais district of Paris has become mired in a festering crisis, pitting the director and the artist's only surviving son against the French culture ministry. With emotions running higher every day, the director, Anne Baldassari, is due to meet the culture minister, Aurélie Filippetti, on Tuesday amid reports that her job is on the line. But instead, the museum in the Marais district has become caught up in a crisis, pitting the director and the artist's only surviving son against the French culture ministry.
In the latest twist, members of the museum's staff went public over the weekend to demand the dismissal of Baldassari, a world-renowned expert on Picasso and director since 2005. In an email signed by more than half of the 40 staff and made available to the newspaper Libération, Baldassari was accused of "authoritarianism, partiality and managerial methods which have led the Picasso museum into an impasse. With emotions running higher every day, the director, Anne Baldassari, is due to meet the culture minister, Aurélie Filippetti, on Tuesday amid reports that her job is on the line.
"The mental and physical health of dozens of officials, and the world reputation of a museum, which is already seriously isolated, cannot continue to be under threat in order to keep one sole person in office, which is now unjustified," the email says. An aide to Filippetti told the Guardian that "there will be a rapid decision" about Baldassari's future in the light of the upheaval at the museum.
Baldassari has already been accused of mismanagement, paranoia and authoritarianism in two separate audits. The most recent report in March called for an urgent management overhaul, concluding that its incompetence had reached a tipping point. But Baldassari has been doggedly supported by Claude Picasso, the son of the 20th century's most renowned artist. Members of the museum's staff went public over the weekend to demand the dismissal of Baldassari, a world-renowned expert on Picasso and director since 2005. In an email signed by more than half of the 40 staff and made available to the newspaper Libération, Baldassari was accused of "authoritarianism, partiality and managerial methods which have led the Picasso museum into an impasse".
Matters came to a head 10 days ago when he wrote a searing article in Le Figaro accusing the government of dishonouring his father's memory. He was ostensibly upset over a three-month delay in reopening the museum, which has been pushed back by the culture ministry from June to September. But the real bone of contention is the future of Baldassari, who in any case had been due to step down in July next year. The email added: "The mental and physical health of dozens of officials, and the world reputation of a museum which is already seriously isolated, cannot continue to be under threat in order to keep one sole person in office, which is now unjustified."
Claude Picasso, 66, has said he suspects the government wants Baldassari to leave before the reopening. He met the prime minister, Manuel Valls – also the son of a Spanish painter – last week and hoped for a compromise in which Baldassari could be kept on until the inauguration. But his comments playing down conflict with the museum employees prompted them to mobilise against such "false information". Baldassari has already been accused of mismanagement, paranoia and authoritarianism in two separate audits. The most recent report, in March, called for an urgent management overhaul, concluding that its incompetence had reached a tipping point.
However, Baldassari has been doggedly supported by Claude Picasso, the son of the 20th century's most renowned artist. Matters came to a head 10 days ago when he wrote a searing article in Le Figaro accusing the government of dishonouring his father's memory.
He was ostensibly upset about a three-month delay in the reopening of the museum, which has been pushed back by the culture ministry from June to September. But the real bone of contention is the future of Baldassari, who in any case had been due to step down in July next year.
Claude Picasso, 66, has said he suspects the government wants Baldassari to leave before the reopening. He met the prime minister, Manuel Valls – also the son of a Spanish painter – last week and hoped for a compromise in which Baldassari could be kept on until the inauguration.
However, his comments playing down conflict with the museum employees prompted them to mobilise against such "false information".
Libération reported on Monday that it had seen a 44-page rebuttal by Baldassari countering the accusations against her. She was not available for further comment.Libération reported on Monday that it had seen a 44-page rebuttal by Baldassari countering the accusations against her. She was not available for further comment.