Candidate for Riba presidency ‘gagged’ after making complaints
A RACISM row at the Royal Institute of British Architects has led to the organisation sending a “gagging order” to a candidate standing for its presidency.
Elsie Owusu, the first chairman of the Society of Black Architects, was handed a cease and desist letter by the honorary secretary of Riba after making allegations including claims of institutional discrimination and racism at the organisation.
Riba, which represents 44,000 architects, sent Ms Owusu the threat- ening letter last month, after she publicly questioned the £180,000-a-year salary of Alan Vallance, its chief executive. It argued that her behaviour was a “flagrant breach of confidentiality, was unsubstantiated and was damaging to Riba and its chief executive officer”.
Kerr Robertson, who wrote the letter, said Owusu had breached guidelines for the presidential elections “in a serious and repeated fashion”, citing her previous claims of institutional racism as an example. He added: “These public statements are very damaging to Riba’s reputation. I am therefore obliged to ask that you cease and desist from making further, damaging public statements about the Riba, whether in the press, at the hustings, on social media or any other public forum.”
Ghana-born Ms Owusu, 65, is looking to become the first black president in Riba’s 184-year history.
Voting closes today, with Ms Owusu polling narrowly behind Alan Jones, the Northern Irish architect, according to Building Design magazine. The winner will be announced on Thursday.
Ms Owusu told The Daily Telegraph: “People at Riba tend to think I am talking about people putting masked sheets over their heads and burning crosses ... but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about unconscious bias which results in some people of whatever stripe having a poorer relationship with the profession than others.”
In 2015, after an unsuccessful bid to become vice-president, she said the decision was “tantamount to institutionalised racism”. She received a letter warning her to “think very carefully about what you say and do” and telling the story of an ancient ruler condemning one of his subjects to death. She said: “It does seem to be that when people take office at Riba they... change from being nice fluffy creative architects to being just bossy and sometimes downright unpleasant.”
Confirming that Riba had implemented new measures to increase diversity in the profession, a spokesman said: “Like any long-standing institution, the Riba has weathered many changes and had to adapt to the times. We know there’s more we can be doing to update our own governance and processes, to ensure all members feel represented and that we are fit for the future.”