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Re Bowled over by ceramics, Sept. 26 Murray Whyte’s article celebrating Kelvin Browne as director of the Gardiner Museum is indeed good news — “daring” exhibitions and programming have resulted in increased attendance since his arrival in late 2013.

Unfortunately, the article is another example of “big man swoops in to save boring museum,” all the more problematic as much of the credit for the “risky” new approach should be given to former chief curator (2011-2014) and interim executive director (2013) Rachel Gotlieb.

Browne inherited the lineup of exhibitions Whyte praises, which were surely a factor in the growth of ticket sales the year after he took over. Gotlieb moved on to become adjunct curator in late 2014 after successfully mounting Claire Twomey’s Piece by Piece, and her vision continues to be seen in the newly opened European galleries.

It was Gotlieb’s predecessor, Alexandra Montgomery, who started the RBC Emerging Artists and Artist Intervention programs; Robin Metcalfe and Barr Gilmore were behind the “watershed” Camp Fires exhibition; and Karine Tsoumis, a young curator on staff, was responsible for the much-loved Animal Stories.

Great exhibitions can take years to develop and great museums take more than a director. Elise Hodson, Toronto