National Gallery Volunteers Remain in Limbo as Leadership Fails to Provide Promised Clarity
More than two years after internal documents urged the National Gallery of Canada's director to clarify volunteer roles, museum docents continue to operate in a state of uncertainty about their future at the prestigious institution. The situation has left long-serving volunteers questioning the gallery's commitment to their contributions and the transparency of its leadership.
Internal Documents Reveal Urgent Need for Volunteer Role Clarity
According to internal documents obtained through an access-to-information request, National Gallery director Jean-François Bélisle was specifically advised before an October 2023 meeting about the critical need for clarity regarding volunteer positions. The speaking notes prepared for Bélisle emphasized that "there may be some pointed questions about why they can't just go back to the program they had in 2020" and highlighted the necessity for "clarity between paid and volunteer roles."
The documents further revealed that gallery staff wanted Bélisle to acknowledge the museum's decades-long relationship with docents and affirm the institution's commitment to maintaining "a strong vibrant diverse volunteer program." Staff also reminded the director to position the meeting as "the first step in creating a program that reflects the journey we've undertaken since the closure in 2020."
Volunteers Express Frustration Over Broken Promises
Despite these internal preparations, volunteers report that the October 2023 meeting failed to deliver the promised clarity. Brian Oickle, a former docent at the National Gallery, expressed frustration with the museum's leadership, stating: "They have not said the volunteer program is cancelled. They have not said that, but they've acted that way."
Volunteers had been told during the meeting that a committee would be formed to discuss their future roles, but according to multiple accounts, no such committee materialized. Oickle offered a stark interpretation of the situation: "It just does not make sense, unless you think that their underlying motivation is to get rid of volunteers, and then it makes sense."
Pandemic's Lasting Impact on Volunteer Engagement
The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally disrupted the National Gallery's programming in 2020, creating lasting changes to how volunteers engage with the public. Since that time, docents have been unable to return to their previous roles of publicly engaging visitors with the gallery's collection—a core function they performed for decades.
While some limited volunteer opportunities have emerged post-pandemic, including:
- Working in the museum's library
- Leading walks through non-gallery spaces
- Supporting interpreters during tours for adults with dementia or visual disabilities
None of these roles allow volunteers to directly engage the public with the gallery's art collection as they did before 2020. This diminished role has led to growing concerns among volunteers about the future of their contributions to Canada's premier art institution.
Redacted Documents and Unanswered Questions
The released documents contain redacted sections that add to the mystery surrounding the gallery's volunteer program decisions. Two bullet points under the "things to keep in mind" heading were completely redacted before release, while the section about creating "clearer rolls between employees and volunteers to avoid overlap" remains visible but unexplained.
This lack of transparency has only increased volunteers' questions about why the gallery hasn't restored their program to its pre-pandemic status. The situation represents a significant departure from the museum's historical relationship with its docents, who have traditionally played a vital role in connecting visitors with Canada's artistic heritage.
As the National Gallery continues to navigate its post-pandemic operations, the unresolved status of its volunteer program raises important questions about institutional transparency, community engagement, and the value placed on volunteer contributions within Canada's cultural institutions.
