Arts Society leadership resigns over reform revolt

The Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of an arts education charity resigned earlier this year following opposition over plans to reform its membership.

The Arts Society, which has more than 60,000 members across 360 local UK societies, proposed earlier this year to replace its membership-elected board with an appointed one, reports The Art Newspaper. 

After a consultation, the plans were changed to allow members to vote in a minority of trustees.

However, 70% of members voted to reject the modified proposals at an extraordinary general meeting in June, leading the majority of Trustees to depart.  

Chief Executive Florian Schweizer and Chief Operating Officer Tim Nicholls stepped down at the society’s August annual general meeting.

A pre-meeting report said both felt their positions to be untenable.

The report added: “We hope that following this period of aggression and challenge, and by handing over to a new board made up by many who led the opposition to the proposals, normality can be restored.”