2023-04-24 07:00:00
After 19 years at the head of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, a page is turning?
“Indeed, a page is turning at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, which have undergone a major transformation with Michel Draguet, in particular with the creation of the Magritte Museum and the multiplication of visits. But today, it is clear that a page has turned and that the conditions were no longer met to continue this journey serenely.
The well-being of the personnel is absolutely essential and for that, indeed, we have taken with Michel Draguet, a decision to reorient his career and therefore we are going to launch a procedure for the appointment of a new director at the head of this magnificent institution.“
But the mandate of Michel Draguet expired on April 30 of this year, in a few days. In this context, an assessment was carried out on the basis of objective testimonies, on the basis of all the known elements.
“Indeed, there is no evidence in relation to the charges that have been issued.
However, we have determined, in good discussion and in good intelligence, that the conditions were not met to be able to continue or in any case stand for a new mandate.
And that is why new directions have been taken for Michel Draguet, who will continue to apply his expertise, which is real, to issues of heritage, the creation of museums, but who effectively will not return to the head of the Museum of fine arts.“
But he will remain at the federal level in the teams of BELSPO (the federal scientific administration, on which the royal museums depend)?
“He has effectively proven during his career that he has expertise in these heritage issues, in the construction of museum institutions. And given the number of projects we have for this fine institution that is the Federal Science Policy Office, we will put its skills to use in the future.“
A departure on good terms? Did things go well? Is this a compromise?
“It is in any case a discussion, in particular on the basis of the facts which have been revealed in the news, which cannot be ignored. Because the well-being of the staff, when you have supervision over the administrations, is the priority.
And so we had this discussion also with regard to these elements which were brought and which were evaluated within the framework of the administrative procedure.
And so today we can only conclude that the conditions were not met to continue at the head of the Museum of Fine Arts and for this reason.
Michel Draguet has taken another direction and we will be launching a procedure for a new director in the next few days.“
How are you going to convince, if I may say so, the staff, that working with Michel Draguet, in the end, may not be so terrible?
“I think he will be in a role where the human resource management component that focused a lot of the time and energy when you are the director of an institution which has hundreds of collaborators like the Museum of Fine Arts will concentrate less time. However, his scientific expertise, his academic expertise will be put to use, be sure of that.“
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