Laura,

    My experience in arts organizations has shown this to present only a conflict
of interest and no real benefit to the organization.  Since the Board of
Directors' responsibilities will not always be the same as the reponsibilities or
personal/professional interests of the curator, this is a bad mix.  The clearest
forum for this conflict of interest is evident in issues of raises, hiring and
firing.  These are all issues that the Board of Directors must become involved
with at times and may present a conflict of interest to the employee.
    Another murky areas, rife with potential for conflict of interest would be
financial decisions relating to funding of, for example, education programs over
exhibition programs.  A curatorial employee on the Board would have a serious
advantage in influencing funding decisions of this sort.  Rather than have anyone
face these sorts of ethical/objectivity problems, it is better to create and
observe clear policies that prevent dual roles on the Board and as an employee.
    I ran into this problem as a gallery director dealing with artists we
represented who also served as motivating influences on the Board.  I left my
position (in part) because of the conflict between the interests of these
individuals as artists  promoting themselves through the gallery and their
decisions about funding and exhibition programs that would benefit the community,
generate revenue, etc.  As an artist myself, I kept my own promotional interests
away from the gallery by never attempting to exhibit in the space at all, despite
some temptation and prompting by others in the organization.
    The temptation to use my position for self-promotion was great and I was
uncomfortable enough with the complications of this situation to leave the
position rather than continue in a situation with so many inherent ethical
problems.

Michael Sweeney

Laura Bajuk wrote:

> Does anyone know of a case where a paid curator+ED [or other employee] can
> also run for and sit on the board of directors of his employing institution -
> as a peer?
>
> I welcome your reference to such institutions which allow[ed] this practice,
> and the pro or con to such action.
>
> MANY thanks for your help... Laura