Gaëtane Verna, the embattled executive director of the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University, has resigned effective immediately following mounting pressure over financial mismanagement and workplace dysfunction. The resignation comes just one week after reports revealed the institution accumulated a $1.1 million deficit in fiscal year 2024 and more than a dozen employees signed a formal letter of no confidence in Verna's leadership.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Wexner Center employees were notified of the resignation through an October 29 email from Ohio State University Provost Ravi M. Bellamkonda. According to the email reviewed by the newspaper, senior vice provost for academic affairs Trevor Brown will oversee the transition in close collaboration with the center's leadership team until an interim director is appointed. "The Wex is well known for its outstanding staff of creative and dedicated professionals and, with your continued support, we will continue to serve the community and support artists from Ohio and across the globe during this transition and for many years to follow," Bellamkonda wrote in the message.
Verna had served as executive director since August 2022, bringing more than a decade of experience from her previous role leading Toronto's Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery as director and artistic director. She also curated the Canadian Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, titled "Kapwani Kiwanga: Trinket," which was commissioned by the National Gallery of Canada. However, she inherited a Wexner Center already facing financial difficulties that had been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The center's financial situation deteriorated significantly under Verna's leadership. The institution finished fiscal year 2024 approximately $2.5 million short of its projected income, resulting in the substantial deficit. A review of the Wexner Center Foundation board's finances revealed questionable spending decisions, including $365,000 on a website update, $185,000 on a new projector, and $1 million on unspecified capital expenditures.
The letter of no confidence, quoted by Columbus-based Matter News, painted a damning picture of Verna's tenure. "Over the past three years, it is our opinion that her approach has resulted in high turnover, organizational dysfunction, financial instability, and reputational harm," the document stated. Notably, the 27 museum employees represented by Wex Workers United were not presented with the letter, as the union maintains its own separate protocol for bringing grievances to museum leadership.
This letter echoed concerns raised in previous reports about the toxic workplace culture at the center. One year before the no-confidence letter was sent, the Columbus Dispatch published an investigation detailing what staff members described as "a culture of dysfunction perpetuated by the museum's executive director" that had forced the departure of more than two dozen employees. The August report, citing current and former employees as well as HR documents, revealed that 23 employees had left under Verna's leadership.
The letter cited several specific examples of alleged fiscal irresponsibility that contributed to the center's troubles. These included the university issuing the center a "red card" for financial turmoil and the launch of a major capital project with a reported $1 million budget that allegedly lacked transparent budgeting, staff consultation, or a completed feasibility study. Staff also criticized Verna's decision to direct university funds toward a series of exhibition catalogs, a project that signatories said would cost more than $200,000 and raised "serious questions about fairness, transparency, and responsible budget use."
The staffing crisis at the Wexner Center reached a critical point in recent months, with key departures accelerating the institution's problems. In August, both the center's director of advancement operations and its head of finance and administration announced their departures. Additionally, two employees were laid off in July due to insufficient funds, as Verna confirmed in an email shared with local press.
As the Wexner Center moves forward from this crisis, details about interim leadership arrangements remain unclear. The institution, known for its innovative programming and support of contemporary artists, now faces the challenge of rebuilding both its finances and staff morale while maintaining its mission to serve the artistic community in Ohio and beyond.
