Guggenheim Museum lays off 20 employees, third round in five years

On February 28, the Guggenheim Museum in New York announced the immediate termination of twenty employees, which represents seven percent of its workforce. These layoffs affect six departments but do not include curators or senior executives. This is the third instance of job cuts in five years, with earlier reductions impacting more than thirty staff members. Mariët Westermann, the Director and CEO, remarked that the museum's financial situation is not satisfactory, although specific numbers were not provided. Despite increasing the endowment, reducing exhibitions, and raising ticket prices from $25 to $30 in 2023, Westermann emphasized that restructuring was essential for fiscal responsibility and future stability. This news follows staff reductions at the Brooklyn Museum two weeks prior to address its budget issues. Olga Brudastova, a union representative for Guggenheim staff, stated that the union was not given prior notice and has filed a grievance seeking information and negotiation regarding the layoffs.