Well educated while wearing a management dress

What role can the intellectual play when he leads the management of cultural institutions? Can he balance his role as an educator and management decisions?

Some intellectuals or "actors in the cultural arena" planned to win the elections of a board of directors of a cultural institution in the seats of the council and the administration of the institution for the coming period. Most of the participants in this event are well-known names, with their intellectual and literary production in the cultural arena, and have been keen to stay close to the management system in all previous periods, and during discussions with friends and interested in this subject, many different opinions emerged about what happened in those elections.

Someone said: Can we call this a conspiracy? But it was different, as there were no agendas beforehand, and the nomination door was open, and everyone has a guaranteed right to run if the candidate is convinced that his candidacy will add important content to this institution and society. In all elections of associations of public interest, the intention to run is accompanied by arrangements and meetings to convince voters of the eligibility of this individual to run, and his cultural vision to be implemented. He added: «I do not believe in the conspiracy theory, despite the beautiful name of this cultural institution, but it does not actually lead the overall cultural work in the country, and performance from my point of view below the average level, why give so much attention to the unproductive sector and not much impact? ».

The second expressed a different view by saying, “Why do many intellectuals believe that they have sufficient administrative capacity to lead cultural institutions, because culture and administration are two completely different elements, and it is strange that they are keen to enter the board of directors for reasons justifying them, such as the fact that this intellectual or that He is one of those who contributed to the establishment of it, or that he has intellectual or literary production that entitles him to knowledge of the corridors of the administration and the right to survive.

During the discussion, my response to them was that “there is a dialectic of the intellectual and power when he sits on the pyramid. He wears the dress of the director with all his financial and administrative powers and decisions in the interest of the cultural institution, which will not necessarily be in the interest of culture and intellectuals?

Many intellectuals and writers who got the chance to enter cultural boards faced this difficult challenge. Some withdrew because of their inability to maintain balance, others were still playing board games and benefiting from the privileges of the elected member. This group has remarkable abilities to survive, continue and reverse positions in their favor, and I don't think they intend to concede any time soon!

In order not to be mistaken, there are local capabilities that want to serve culture faithfully, but crossing to cultural institutions and councils is a thorny path, controlled by a certain elite, and even crossing it may not guarantee access and acceptance.

My friend says: What about you, do you want to take up this challenge?

I said no comment.

jamal.alshehhi@gmail.com

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