Report by the Supervisory Board
During the four meetings of the Supervisory Board in 2022, recurring points on the agenda concerned the financial reporting, development and implementation of the multi-annual strategic plan 2022-2025, as well as trends within the related areas of work, such as fundraising and the relationship with our funding partners.
The precarious situation of the cultural sector in 2022 due to Covid-19 continued to be an urgent topic as well as the outbreak of war in Ukraine and ECF’s immediate reaction and support that was set up through the Culture of Solidarity Fund Ukraine. Other areas for discussion included: diversity and inclusion, risk management, cooperation with partners in the Netherlands and across Europe and HR policy, investment principles, Theory of Change, endowment-raising strategies and office location.
The European Cultural Foundation makes a clear distinction between supervision and management in its day-to-day operations, but the organisation is keen on close cooperation and common deliberation on the main issues and challenges faced.
The Supervisory Board oversees the proper execution of the Director’s managerial responsibilities. The Supervisory Board’s main responsibilities can be summarised as follows:
- Deciding upon and evaluating the Foundation’s strategy as drafted by the Director, and prioritising its activities
- Evaluating the efficient use of the Foundation’s resources (approval of budget and Annual Report)
- Appointing the Foundation’s Director, members of the Supervisory Board and the President.
The four Supervisory Board meetings took place respectively on 9 March (online), 10 May and 22 June (online) and 1 December 2022. The topics discussed focused on a number of items, including:
- Approval of 2021 financial report and Annual Report
- Approval of the updated 2022 budget
- Decisions on Supervisory Board development and Audit Committee membership
- Relationship with Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds
- Exchange with the staff representation group (‘Personeelsvertegenwoordiging’/‘PVT’)
- Self-assessment by the Supervisory Board
Supervisory Board development
This year the Supervisory Board welcomed two new members. Mr Igno van Waesberghe joined on 9 March as Vice-Chair. Ms Esra Kücük joined on 10 May. We bid farewell to Rien van Gendt who served as Vice-Chair and Chair ad interim on the ECF Supervisory Board. We are most indebted to him for his many years of inspired work and insights for the benefit of the Foundation.
Annual self-assessment and confidential exchange with the Staff Representation Group (‘Personeelsvertegenwoordiging’/‘PVT’)
At the 10 May meeting, the Supervisory Board carried out a self-assessment and they met with the Foundation’s staff representation group in a confidential and informal exchange.
For 2023, the Supervisory Board will specifically monitor housing location matters and issues related to sustainable finance and risk management.
Gerry Salole, Chair of Supervisory Board, European Cultural Foundation
List of Supervisory Board members (as at 31 December 2022)
President
HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands (NL)
Chair
Gerry Salole (UK)
Vice-Chair
Rien van Gendt (NL) (until 9 March 2022)
Igno van Waesberghe (NL) (from 9 March 2022)
Treasurer
Rob Defares (NL)
Members
Florian Dautil (F)
Esra Kücük (D) (from 10 May 2022)
Andrea Silvestri (I)
Catarina Vaz Pinto (PT)
Rana Zincir Celal (TR/CY)
