On "Zeit im Bild 2" on Tuesday evening, Veronika Sandbichler, the director of Ambras Castle, reported on conversations in which she was "at least verbally treated in such a way" that she broke down in tears. According to her lawyer Martin Maxl, there have been nearly 20 cases of disputes with museum employees since the new general director Jonathan Fine took office.

"I accuse Mr. Fine of a toxic leadership culture," Maxl said in the report. Sandbichler, who has been leading the branch of the Kunsthistorisches Museum at Ambras Castle as director since 2010, reported a new style of communication towards her, which exposed her to physical and psychological stress, necessitating medical care. According to "ZiB 2", the works council convened for a special meeting on Tuesday and the Ministry of Culture has commissioned an external review by the consulting firm Deloitte.

Allegations Denied

In a statement available to APA, the KHM Museum Association "categorically rejects" the claims made in the report. "The accusations spread there are factually incorrect, presented in a one-sided manner, and are not supported by any facts." Sandbichler is accused of "shifting an individual labor law interest, namely the termination of her employment under the conditions she desires, into the public by deliberately placing false allegations."

It was not the ministry, but the board of trustees of the museum association that had already "commissioned a comprehensive, independent review of the allegations against the management long before the current media escalation." They see themselves "as a public institution with a clear culture of responsibility, respect, and open communication channels." Currently, it is assumed that "an employee is trying to favorably influence her legal and negotiating position by spreading unfounded, defamatory, or deliberately distorted allegations. The museum association is therefore forced to examine all legal options and, if necessary, to exhaust them."

(APA/Red)

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