Dean of Willem de Kooning Academy resigns following social safety complaints

Jeroen Chabot has announced his resignation as dean of the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam following the publication of a critical review into social safety at the art academy.

As reported by the news platform Profielen, a survey among and interviews with Willem de Kooning Academy staff and students revealed complaints about the academy’s organisational structure.

Do-it-yourself institute

The report paints a picture of a hierarchical organisation in which the management and the dean relegate many difficult decisions to staff on the pretext of ‘improving their autonomy’. The authors of the report noted that staff felt disrespected, undervalued, unseen and unheard.

The art academy ‘is felt to be a do-it-yourself institute’ that leaves lecturers to their own devices. There is a perceived lack of ‘a solid foundation’ and ‘clear parameters’, ‘leading to a frequent sense of chaos’.

Dean Jeroen Chabot has now announced his resignation. A successor will be appointed after the summer holidays. Chabot will remain employed by Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.