Boss tries to quell new Baltic storm

Jul 5 2007 by David Whetstone, The Journal

BALTIC boss Peter Doroshenko said last night he was sorry if his management style had upset "a number of individuals".

His remarks followed a national newspaper report yesterday which alleged that the Gateshead centre for contemporary art was “in turmoil” and quoted unnamed “insiders” complaining about Mr Doroshenko’s management style.

They were reported as saying it was “intolerable” and “bullying”.

Similar expressions of concern among Baltic staff were reported in The Journal in May when Sheila Wilson, regional officer of Unison, confirmed that there had been periods of unrest in the past and that meetings between Baltic staff and management were ongoing.

In a statement issued last night by Baltic, Mr Doroshenko said: “I deeply regret that there continues to be speculation in the Press around staff issues at Baltic.

“There are obviously a number of individuals who are upset at my management style and for that I am sorry.”

He added: “The staff and crew at Baltic are passionate and talented people and the recent staff survey undertaken clearly shows that they are ready to embrace change.

“My directors and I are fully committed to working with staff and the board of trustees to create the necessary behaviour, structures and processes required to overcome current difficulties.”

He concluded: “We are seeking to move forward collectively as an organisation that can now meet the challenge of our very ambitious plans for the future of Baltic.”

Earlier Mr Doroshenko said the organisation, which celebrates its firth birthday on July 13, was entering a period of great change. He denied the allegation of bullying.

The Baltic board of trustees is due to meet next Wednesday. One item on the agenda will be a report commissioned by chairman Sir Ian Wrigglesworth from leadership and organisational development consultants CPCR who have an office on Tyneside.

Mr Doroshenko is the third director of Baltic since Gateshead’s £46m contemporary art centre opened in July 2002 and there has been a similarly high turnover of staff in some other areas of the organisation.

While none has been prepared to express their dissatisfaction openly, there have been regular rumours of unrest.

The founding director of Baltic was Sune Nordgren, whose acknowledged achievement in getting the building opened was marred by criticism from the Arts Council of his handling of certain financial aspects.

After leaving to take up a post in Norway, Mr Nordgren was replaced by Stephen Snoddy, who resigned after a period of suspension following an unfounded allegation of assault. Since 2005 he has run a new art gallery in Walsall.

Mr Doroshenko, an American of Ukrainian extraction, was subsequently appointed and has declared his intention of increasing visitor numbers and revenue at Baltic.

One long-serving Baltic trustee, arts consultant Isabel Vasseur, spoke out in support of Mr Doroshenko after the most recent allegations. “The last few shows, I think, have been a fantastic improvement and I’m not just saying that because I’m a trustee,” said Ms Vasseur who was responsible for the visual art programme at the Gateshead National Garden Festival in 1990.

“There are things now for a much broader spectrum of people to enjoy. I know there have been problems but I have absolute confidence in Peter Doroshenko.”

Four new trustees will be welcomed onto an expanded Baltic board at next Wednesday’s meeting. They are Peter Buchan, executive director of Ryder HKS, Vikas Kumar, director of Tyneside-based Gem Arts, retail consultant Stephen Taylor and art collector Mark Vanmoekerke.

Baltic’s fifth birthday will be marked with activities at Baltic Quay and the opening of a new exhibition by self-taught painter Beryl Cook.