Getty director steps down

Deborah Gribbon, director of the Getty Museum since 2000, resigned her post on Oct. 18 citing "critical differences" with Barry Munitz, president and chief executive of the J. Paul Getty Trust. According to press reports in both the New York and Los Angeles Times, the two were known not to have gotten along, due in part to a somewhat unusual managerial structure in which the director reports directly to the chief executive rather than to the board. While Gribbon sought to expand the museum's collection, Munitz preferred to direct more of the trust's resources toward grant-making programs, conservation, scholarship and philanthropy.

Rumors of low morale at the museum, along with the departure of senior staff members over the past few years, seemed to indicate internal dissension. A number of museum directors and arts professionals, including Philippe de Montebello of the Metropolitan in New York and Hugh Davies, director of the MCA in San Diego, spoke out on Gribbon's behalf as a strong and committed reader, while defenders of Munitz--Deborah Marrow, director of the Getty Grant Program, among them--made similar proclamations for the CEO. Some observers have expressed concern that Munitz, prior to his appointment six years ago, had no experience with museums or art history.

Gribbon had been with the museum since 1984, when she joined the staff as assistant director for curatorial affairs. During her tenure as director, she was responsible for the acquisition of more than 500 works, including paintings by Titian, Degas and Monet. William Griswold, who joined the staff as associate director for collections in 2001, will become acting director and chief curator.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Brant Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group