The Brooklyn Museum, facing $10 million in loans, has announced to lay off 40 employees and enforce budget cuts.
The news first broke on Friday when Anne Pasternak, director of the museum, released a statement. She spelled out the troubles faced by the museums, adding: “Inflation has dramatically impacted our operating budget, adding millions of dollars to everyday costs and outpacing funding.” She also mentioned the slow pace of attendance post-pandemic that contributed to the situation. The Brooklyn Museum is facing a mounting outstanding loan – expected to reach $10 million by June this year – that it finds itself unable to repay due to its expenses far outpacing its revenues.
However, a thorn might still undo the museum’s plans. Among the laid-off employees are both union and non-union workers. The president of Local 1502, the division of District Council 37 union that handles the art sector workers in the city, told the press that he was only told about the layoff on Thursday – a day before the public announcement. This might be in violation of the contract where the museum is supposed to inform the union sufficiently prior. Reportedly the union is looking for negotiations and might insist on halting the layoff.
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The Brooklyn Museum finds itself in a dire position despite having a rather good year in 2024. It organized several successful exhibitions like “Solid Gold”. There was growth in funds and the museum unveiled a new logo in September during its bicentennial year. On the flipside, it found itself a target of frequent protests throughout the year.
