The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) announced Monday immediately terminate the contract of its general manager and curator, the French Nathalie Bondil, citing in particular accusations of psychological harassment. The board of directors said in a press release that it had "reluctantly" taken this decision regarding Nathalie Bondil. This graduate of the Ecole du Louvre arrived at the MMFA in 1999 and has directed it since 2007.
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"Since last year, the Museum has seen several departures of key employees and has been made aware of disturbing testimonies from employees reporting an obvious deterioration in the working climate , " the press release said. Alerted by the union in the fall, the board of directors said it had mandated an outside firm to "establish an independent diagnosis" . The report prepared by this firm mentioned a work environment described as "toxic" by "some employees" , according to the board."Over the past few months, the repeatedly repeated attempts by the board of directors to find a solution to this intolerable situation have come up against Nathalie Bondil's inflexibility and her denial of several conclusions, however without appeal from the report" , according to the press release.
In addition, "the allegations of psychological harassment within the conservation department of the Museum persist" , according to the press release. The council invokes "the categorical refusal" of Nathalie Bondil to accept a compromise to "immediately terminate her employment" , rather than at the end of her contract in June 2021. "Nathalie Bondil contributed significantly to the development of Museum ” , recognizes the council by describing as “ regrettable ” the end of a “ remarkable association of more than 21 years ”. "It is however sad to note that the humanist face of the Museum established by Nathalie Bondil did not find an echo even within its walls" , affirms the president of the council Michel de la Chenelière, who will assure the interim while awaiting the nomination a successor.
Last Thursday, Ms. Bondil had received the support of the Minister of Culture of Quebec, Nathalie Roy, "stunned" by this affair. "Nathalie Bondil is a world leader in the museum world - and a female director general, moreover - who does remarkable work at the MMFA," she told the daily La Presse . "I don't understand why the board of directors would want to deprive itself of its services when the great museums of this world are tearing themselves away from it." Nathalie Bondil had not publicly reacted to her eviction on Monday afternoon.