Glasgow School of Art board sack director, architect and fierce critic

Glasgow School of Art’s under-fire board has sacked one of its biggest critics.

Leading architect and academic Gordon Gibb was sacked for breach of contract after criticising the school board in The Sunday Post and social media.

He spoke out in August when The Sunday Post told how a global fundraising campaign raising millions of pounds to rebuild the world-famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh building after a fire of 2014 was under scrutiny after the school collected more than £50 million from insurers.

At least £20m was donated to help restore the building after the devastating blaze, but restoration costs were covered by insurance.

Mr Gibb wrote at the time: “At the most senior level, on the board and in the directorate, the poor ­decision-making and inept stewardship of this famous institution demands inquiry.”

He previously told MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s culture committee that the Mackintosh building should be taken out of the hands of its board after two devastating fires in four years.

Mr Gibb was director of ­professional studies at the GSA’S architecture department for 16 years.

He said yesterday: “I shall appeal. I intend to take this all the way. I want my job back and those who have done this must go.”

A former colleague of Mr Gibb said: “This decision to instantly ­dismiss Gordon was made by managers in haste and in secret without due process.

“For that to happen at a time when ongoing professional studies support is required for the students engaged in the courses and just before critical examinations, with no contingency in place, smells of desperation.

“One has to wonder if there are scared staff and board members needing to remove dissenters in advance of the arrival of the new GSA director.”

Last month The Sunday Post revealed director Irene McAra-McWilliam was quitting the role and returning to her ­previous position.

Since the second fire in June 2018, the art school has seen the resignations of director Tom Inns and finance director Alastair Milloy.

According to a leaked report for the crisis-hit art school last year, one in three staff feels “unduly stressed” at work and one in eight feels ­harassed or bullied.

The Sunday Post also revealed an exodus of 70 staff from the school since a second devastating fire at the building in 2018. Forty resigned and another 30 were made redundant.

A GSA ­spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on members of staff, current or past.”