Suspended from his functions in the spring of 2023, then dismissed by the president of Frac Centre-Val de Loire in November of the same year, Abdelkader Damani contested the legality of his dismissal from the post of director. On September 24, the Orléans administrative court ruled in his favor, canceling his dismissal for lack of evidence justifying the decision.
The court considered that the main motivation for this dismissal, relating to the management of the director, did not correspond to his role in the establishment: “it does not appear from the documents in the file that the function of director would be essentially managerial in nature”indicates the court decision, recalling that Abdelkader Damani was recruited for an artistic and cultural project.
The decision rendered also notes that the managerial difficulties experienced by the establishment are not “exclusively attributable to Mr Damani”also pointing to the responsibility of the Frac administrator, Frédéric Chevreux. Grievances concerning hasty decisions by the director, outside the administrative framework of the establishment, and his lack of loyalty to the board of directors were also rejected by the court.
Expatriated to Saudi Arabia, where he directs the prefiguration of the Irqah Creative Art Laboratory, Abdelkader Damani now wishes to return to his position as director in Orléans: “he was forced to emigrate to practice his profession abroad, away from his family and loved ones (…) and expresses his wish to return to France”indicates a press release from the former director. The Frac is ordered to pay compensation of 3,000 euros for moral damage to its former employee.
Frac Orléans recruited a new director in October, Christelle Kirchstetter. The president of the establishment, regional elected official Carole Cannette, rejects the possibility of reinstating Abdelkader Damani: “the court does not order his reinstatement, since Mr. Damani’s contract has ended since July”she says. “The chapter is closed, what interests me now is the future of the Frac”adds the president.
Frac Centre-Val de Loire by architects Jakob + MacFarlane.
