In a debate article published in Aftonbladet, Maria Lantz writes that it is obvious that she "as headmaster has not done enough to ensure Kristoffersson's right to feel safe and welcome in her workplace".
- If it had happened today, I would have called for physical meetings, it would have been much easier and more powerful.
Now it was here during the pandemic and a lot happened at a distance, and the debate also took place on social media, says Maria Lantz to Kulturnyheterna.
- Probably I could have done this despite the pandemic.
But I did not, and I regret it.
The controversial proposal was published
As early as 2019, the anonymous artist collective Brown Island proposed that Konstfack's exhibition space White Sea should be renamed.
The group considered that the name symbolized the white homogeneity of Scandinavian art academies, which according to them constituted a democratic problem.
The proposal was raised in the school's management team.
Art professor Sara Kristoffersson, who was part of the group, argued that the name had nothing to do with racism.
In January 2021, she also wrote a debate article in Dagens Nyheter that made the name change proposal public.
44 colleagues later replied in the same newspaper with their own article in which it was stated, among other things, that Kristoffersson had damaged trust in the relationship between students and teachers.
Kristoffersson took sick leave part-time.
The name change proposal was rejected later in the process.
It is precisely in the handling of this collection of names that Maria Lantz believes that Konstfack has fallen short.
Do you think you can stay as principal?
- I think I have the confidence.
And should it be disturbed in any way, I will not stay that long, I have one year left on this chair, says Maria Lantz.
Comes after book about the event
The self-critical text comes after Sara Kristofferson's book "The whole sea storms" was published, in which she tells about her experience of the months that followed the debate.
She testifies about how she felt hung up and treated unfairly.
- The fact that they now admit that they have treated this situation in an incorrect way at Konstfack is a small success.
But it is still high time for self-criticism, says Sara Kristoffersson to Kulturnyheterna.