Birgit Donker, the director of the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, has spent the past two weeks on administrative leave. De Volkskrant reports that Donker was been told not to go near the institution pending an investigation into claims from staff that she created a ‘toxic work environment’ and an ‘atmosphere of fear’.
Donker told the Dutch newspaper that since being locked out on 19 June she ‘received heartfelt support from half of the staff, which disproves those claims’. It is alleged that under Donker’s watch staff turnover has been high and sick leave has increased.
The museum has been closed for several months while it prepares to relocate to new premises, a warehouse being remodelled by Renner Hainke Wirth Zirn Archtitekten, Hamburg and WDJARCHITECTEN, Rotterdam, which is scheduled to open in September.
Donkar has directed the photography institution since 2018, having previously led the grant-giving Mondriaan Fund for six years.
