21/08/2001

David Ross, director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for only three years, abruptly resigned on the 16th August. A statement from the museum said that Ross' "priorities diverge from those of the museum." His resignation is effective immediately. Ross, 51, came to SFMOMA from the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, where he served as director for seven years. Ross recently said that the museum had spent $ 140,000,000 (€ 152,714,630) since his arrival, a figure even the largest American museums couldn't match. While he was director, the museum acquired René Magritte's Personal Values, one of the most famous of the surrealist's paintings, and major groups of works by Robert Rauschenberg and painter Ellsworth Kelly. The SFMOMA directorship is an attractive position as it is backed by a board of high-spending local arts patrons who want to put their institution on the map. Money for operating the museum, for the acquisition of new works to fill SFMOMA's collection and for the director's salary is not a problem. Ross earned $ 393,900 (€ 429,673) last year. The museum also loaned him $ 763,000 (€ 832,294) at zero interest to buy a home when he came to San Francisco. (James Goulder)