Shouldn’t have met Tangen in London – VG

– My inquiry to Nicolai Tangen is due to the fact that he has long shown interest and willingness to support the field of art. I have always had the best of the museum in mind and have always worked to act correctly, something that I was also sure to have done along the way.

Hindsbo writes in a comment to VG after the board of directors on behalf of the National Museum took self-criticism after it was concluded that she was unable to handle a case of money from foundation sponsorship to financier and now oil fund manager Nicolai Tangen.

E-mails VG has had access to show that Tangen announced in December a larger sum of money from his Ako Foundation for the museum, at the request of Hindsbo. Hindsbo considers himself a friend of Tangen. After VG asked questions about the friendship in June, the National Museum board ordered a probity assessment, which concluded that Hindsbo could not handle the case.

Both she and the chairwoman of the board, Linda Bernander Silseth, have defended the procedure. But this weekend, the chairwoman of the Storting’s culture committee, Kristin Ørmen Johnsen (H), said that “the case seems unfortunate.” Law professors E claim Smith, Jan Fritjof Bernt and Christoffer Conrad Eriksen criticized the procedure and understanding of the rules of probity.

Hindsbo now writes to VG that she “sees in hindsight that there are two things that could have been done differently.”

– By December 9, when the board was informed that the AKO Foundation wants to support the museum, I should have asked for a probity assessment due to my friendship with Nicolai Tangen, writes Hindsbo.

Hindsbo took over as director of the National Museum in 2017. The new building at Aker Brygge will be completed soon, priced at $ 6.1 billion.

Meeting in london

VG has previously written that Hindsbo traveled to London in January with two colleagues. Along the way, they met Tangen and discussed topics that were relevant to a possible collaboration between the AKO Foundation and the museum.

“Also, I should refrain from participating in the lunch that I and two other museum employees had with Tangen in January, when we were in London on another errand,” Hindsbo writes to VG.

VG law professors interviewed last week stated that Hindsbo was already incompetent when he contacted Tangen and asked for money for the National Museum. In hindsight, VG has about Hindsbo believes that it was within fairness rules to contact a friend with questions about donations or sponsorship funds.

– Karin Hindsbo does not want to comment on the initial contact beyond what she has already done, writes senior communications consultant Ole-Morten Fadnes to VG.

The museum administration is now seeking outside legal assistance to create fairness guidelines at the institution.

– A type of conversation that I have with many

Hindsbo emphasizes in the responses to VG that the meeting with Tangen was not originally the purpose of the trip to London.

He also believes that there were no actual negotiations.

– At this lunch we talked about what exhibitions we are considering after the opening of the new National Museum and about the costs of mounting exhibitions, while Tangen among other things told which institutions he supports in London, with what sums and what he gets from such collaboration, Hindsbo writes.

Less than two months later, on March 10, the foundation offered to pay money to the National Museum, shows an email that VG has had access to. At this time, Tangen was in the last stage of negotiations with Norges Bank about his work as an oil fund manager and was shortly after, a much more famous name in Norway.

– This is a type of conversation that I have with many people, and there were no real negotiations in progress. They will start this fall, the museum director writes to VG.

Continue the conversations

At the same time that the altercation at the National Museum on Monday took self-criticism, they said they want to continue talks with the Ako Foundation about a collaboration.

They also requested that the administration prepare a draft guideline on how the National Museum will handle contact with potential external partners in the future.

The draft will also inform the acquisition of fairness assessments and will be presented at the next board meeting. Hindsbo says he’s happy about this.

– I see it as a central part of my position as director to ensure that the National Museum increases its own profits, as we have received a political order to do. To achieve this, I depend on building and maintaining a network with various people and actors who can think of collaborating with and supporting the National Museum. This is part of the work that I enjoy and hope to continue. I experience strong and collective support from the National Museum board in my opinion of this endeavor, writes Hindsbo.

– Therefore, it is very gratifying that the board today ordered a draft of guidelines on how the National Museum will handle contact with potential external partners in the future.