ICA San Diego Faces Financial Crisis, Staff Layoffs, and No-Confidence Vote
The Institute of Contemporary Art in San Diego made significant staff cuts, laying off eight employees, including its sole curator, from July 29 to August 16. Additionally, the operations director resigned on the same day. While the main facility in Balboa Park remains closed, the Encinitas campus and Sculpture Trail continue functioning. On August 19, remaining staff raised concerns in a letter regarding the leadership of director Andrew Utt, citing financial challenges. The exhibition "Cat Gunn: if only by the light of a new moon" concluded prematurely without informing the artist. Laid-off staff have filed claims with California's Labor Commission.
Key facts
- ICA San Diego laid off eight staff members, nearly half its employees, between 29 July and 16 August.
- The layoffs included the museum's only curator and director of learning and engagement.
- The director of operations resigned on 29 July.
- The main campus in Balboa Park is closed; Encinitas campus and Sculpture Trail remain open.
- A letter of no confidence was sent to the ICA board on 19 August, calling for removal of director Andrew Utt.
- The letter cites three consecutive years of financial instability under Utt, including unpaid bills and bounced checks.
- The exhibition Cat Gunn: if only by the light of a new moon was shut down a month early without informing the artist.
- Affected employees have submitted claims to California's Department of Industrial Relations Labor Commission.
Entities
Artists
- Cat Gunn
- Dianna Elizardo
- Andrew Utt
Institutions
- Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego
- The Art Newspaper
- San Diego Museum of Art
- California Department of Industrial Relations Labor Commission
Locations
- San Diego
- United States
- Balboa Park
- Encinitas