Ontario School Board Cites Secrecy to Conceal $34K Fine Art Records
In London, Ontario, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is invoking a significant secrecy provision to withhold details about its art collection, appraised at $30,445. This modest collection comprises 84 artworks, equating to approximately $360 each, based on a 2012 appraisal.
Art Collection Under Secrecy
While some artists in the TVDSB collection include notable figures such as Frank Johnston, Manly MacDonald, and Benjamin Chee Chee, many specific titles remain undisclosed due to extensive redactions. This lack of transparency raises concerns about how public institutions manage cultural assets like fine art, particularly when combined with the financial stakes involved.
Provincial Oversight and Art Disclosures
The TVDSB is currently under provincial supervision due to financial mismanagement, sharing this status with four other Ontario school boards. Of these boards, only the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has publicly disclosed its art holdings, valued at up to $10 million in 2010.
- TVDSB art collection: $30,445 (approximately $360 each)
- TDSB art collection: Up to $10 million (as of 2010)
Other boards, including the Peel District School Board, the Toronto Catholic School Board, and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, have remained silent on their collections.
Freedom of Information Requests
Requests for a complete inventory of the TVDSB’s art collection yielded limited information. Only aggregate figures were provided, and details regarding the storage and display of the art were withheld under legal exemptions related to economic interests and safety concerns.
Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner has indicated that such exemptions are meant for serious risk situations. Meanwhile, CBC News has filed an appeal to obtain further information on the collection.
The Impact of Secrecy in Art Management
Experts claim that the use of secrecy as a management tool is becoming the norm within public institutions. Cara Krmpotitch, a professor of museum studies at the University of Toronto, notes that many public collections were created before the strict documentation standards we see today.
“In some cases, they’re poorly documented,” Krmpotitch explained, emphasizing the cultural significance of these artworks, especially those by local or Indigenous artists.
Risks Associated with Poor Documentation
Christopher Marinello, an art recovery lawyer, warns that incomplete inventories and undisclosed collections are more susceptible to loss. He argues that using safety as a reason to conceal documentation indicates inadequate care and management.
Government Response and Cultural Oversight
In response to inquiries regarding art collection oversight, Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra’s office emphasized the need to restore stability in schools, without providing clear information on artwork inventory or reporting requirements.
Advocates for accountability stress that the absence of solid frameworks for cultural stewardship in Ontario is not isolated. Across Canada, similar challenges exist in various public institutions where artworks, often donated decades ago, remain outside standardized management practices.
Ultimately, without proper cataloging and disclosure, valuable cultural assets may quietly vanish over time, underscoring the importance of transparency in managing public art collections.
