Guggenheim lays off 10 employees as museums face fiscal challenges
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum announced it had laid off 10 employees in response to a challenging economic moment in the art world.
It was the latest shock to the museum industry, with a number of institutions across the country cutting staff and raising ticket prices to new heights. When the Guggenheim raised the price of adult admission from $25 to $30 over the summer, it cited a lack of visitors and declining membership at a time when costs have skyrocketed due to inflation, higher labor costs and insurance, as well as rising shipping costs.
The layoffs included two deputy directors, as well as several longtime employees of the visitor services and communications departments. The ten jobs that were cut amounted to 2.5 percent of all employees.
“Like many other institutions, rising costs and inflation have put pressure on our budget,” museum spokeswoman Sara Fox said in a statement. “Over the past few months, we have taken proactive steps to reduce our deficit by increasing admission prices and reducing costs where possible. Unfortunately, the museum will not be able to support our current workforce.”
The layoffs came as a surprise, according to Maida Rosenstein, organizing director of Local 2110, a chapter of the United Auto Workers that represents some Guggenheim employees and those at several other museums in the city.
“It was a real slap in the face to the employees who have been working there for years,” said Rosenstein, who said two people in her unit were affected, adding that the union was seeking a meeting with management about the layoffs.
The Guggenheim union, which represents nearly 150 curators, conservators and other employees, signed its first contract with the museum in August after more than two years of negotiations.
In recent days, several other museums have cut jobs, citing a tough financial picture. In November, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art eliminated 20 staff positions, citing a 35 percent drop in visitor numbers from 2019.
The Dallas Museum of Art had also opened a month earlier Lay off 20 employees and said it would no longer be open to the public on Tuesdays to save money.
The resignation from the Guggenheim came shortly after the curators announced that Mariët Westermann had been appointed as the next director. She was praised for her connections to Abu Dhabi, where she is vice chancellor of New York University’s campus and where the museum is expected to open a new location in 2026. That project has been heavily delayed, partly due to protests over the fate of the migrant workers employed on the project. She will start her new role in June.
For now, the museum said layoffs will better position the museum to face the future.
“These colleagues have shown dedication and commitment to the museum and we thank them for their hard work,” said Fox, the museum spokeswoman. “These steps will better position the Guggenheim as a future-proof, sustainable museum as we continue to uphold our mission.”