Brooklyn Museum Halts Layoffs, but Job Uncertainty Remains for Workers
# Brooklyn Museum Pauses Layoffs Following Additional City Funding
The Brooklyn Museum has announced a temporary halt to its planned layoffs of nearly 50 employees after securing an additional $100,000 in funding from the City of New York for the 2025 fiscal year. This decision comes after weeks of protests, negotiations, and advocacy by unions and workers, who pushed back against the highly criticized staff cuts.
## **Background: The Planned Layoffs**
In February 2024, the Brooklyn Museum revealed its intention to lay off 47 employees—over 10% of its workforce—citing a $10 million budget deficit. Museum Director Anne Pasternak outlined a financial restructuring plan that included staff reductions, program cutbacks, a hiring freeze for non-essential roles, and salary cuts of 10% to 20% for senior staff members.
The museum’s popular “First Saturdays” event was also suspended for two months as part of its cost-saving measures. These decisions immediately faced backlash from unions representing museum workers, including District Council 37 Local 1502 and UAW Local 2110, which argued that staff should not bear the consequences of poor financial planning.
## **Union Advocacy and Public Protests**
Union leaders and museum staff organized multiple demonstrations, including rallies outside the Brooklyn Museum and an oversight hearing at City Hall. They urged the museum to pursue alternative cost-cutting measures instead of laying off employees.
“There is no reason why 47 people should be losing their jobs until we exhaust everything possible,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry A. Garrido during a City Council hearing on February 28. He highlighted that, in 2016, the museum had implemented furloughs rather than job cuts to navigate financial difficulties.
Following public pressure, the Brooklyn Museum management agreed to offer voluntary separation packages and retirement incentives—steps that union leaders had been advocating for. 27 employees accepted these voluntary packages, reducing the immediate number of layoffs needed.
## **Museum Leadership’s Response**
In a March 24 email to staff, reviewed by *Hyperallergic*, Director Anne Pasternak acknowledged the additional $100,000 in city funding and the voluntary departures. However, she warned that unless further financial support materializes, the museum “will unfortunately need to move ahead with the previously planned reductions by June 30, 2025.”
While the delayed layoffs provide temporary relief, union leaders maintain that the institution must find sustainable solutions to prevent future workforce reductions. Museum workers continue to argue that the museum’s financial troubles stem from broader mismanagement rather than employee salaries.
## **Larger Implications for the Arts Sector**
The Brooklyn Museum’s financial struggles are not unique. Across the U.S., museums and cultural institutions are facing funding uncertainties, rising operational costs, and fluctuating visitor engagement post-pandemic.
– **The Guggenheim Museum in New York City** laid off 20 employees in February, without reducing senior staff salaries.
– **San Francisco museums**, including the Asian Art Museum and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, are currently battling against proposed budget cuts from the city.
– **Federal arts funding** remains unpredictable, with programs previously supporting underserved communities facing elimination.
As government support dwindles and private donations fluctuate, museums and arts organizations are grappling with difficult financial decisions, often at the expense of their workers.
## **The Road Ahead for the Brooklyn Museum**
In the coming months, museum leadership, city officials, and union representatives will continue negotiations to secure additional financial support for the Brooklyn Museum. Advocates emphasize that layoffs should be the last resort and that institutions must explore creative alternatives to balance their budgets.
For now, the pause on layoffs is a small victory for the museum’s workforce, but the uncertainty remains. Without a long-term financial solution, job security for many cultural workers will continue to be at risk.
🔹 *Hyperallergic has reached out to the Brooklyn Museum for further comment.*
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