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February 28, 2008

Controversial Museum Director Steps Down

The board of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, in New York, announced on Wednesday that Thomas Krens, its controversial director, is stepping down, The New York Times reports.

The move comes three years after Mr. Krens won a battle with the foundation’s biggest benefactor, Peter B. Lewis, who resigned after arguing that Mr. Krens was spending too much money and should focus more of his time and attention on the foundation’s New York flagship museum rather than on funneling resources into developing Guggenheim satellites overseas.

In a statement yesterday, the foundation said that Mr. Krens would remain at the foundation as a senior adviser for international affairs, overseeing the creation of a 452,000-square-foot museum in Abu Dhabi, and would stay on as director until a successor was hired.

Over his nearly 20-year tenure, Mr. Krens has sometimes been accused of arrogance.

His supporters told the newspaper that Mr. Krens has lately been disappointed with the foundation’s board, especially its lack of big donors.

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