Former staff allege racism and toxic conditions at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney faces allegations of a toxic workplace and institutional racism from former employees. Lily Lai, a Chinese-Australian ex-gallery assistant, published a blog detailing bullying and lack of support for staff of color, claiming she was denied a permanent role due to her hair and struggled financially on a trainee salary of AUS$100 weekly after rent. She asserted that white visitors often challenged non-white staff in authority roles, and management, described as predominantly white, failed to address racist incidents. Another former staff member, Anni-Jane Linklater, involved the Australian Workers' Union after disciplinary action over her advocacy for chairs for gallery assistants, with SafeWork NSW initially ruling in her favor before an appeal overturned it. Additional complaints on social media echoed mental health damage from the environment. In response, MCA director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor defended the museum's culture, citing inclusive policies and support programs, while acknowledging Linklater violated internet conduct rules. Macgregor recently discussed post-COVID-19 museum challenges in ArtReview, emphasizing accessibility and resource balance.