UCCA Center for Contemporary Art Faces Financial Crisis, Allegedly Withholding Wages for Six Months

According to a report by the South China Morning Post on July 28, employees at the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art have gone six months without pay, from January to June, due to financial challenges. Established in 2007 by Belgian art collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens, the Beijing institution has grown to include locations in Beidaihe, Shanghai, and Yixing. Staff members noted that overdue wages are now being paid out slowly, while UCCA Edge in Shanghai has been inactive since a June exhibition in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture concluded. Director Philip Tinari pointed out the tough year for Chinese museums, mentioning a sluggish consumer economy and hesitant supporters, but refrained from discussing specific details. The sector faces various issues, including decreased ticket sales, rising international shipping costs, stricter rental demands from state-owned landlords, and challenges in receiving payments from international collaborators. This situation illustrates the broader difficulties confronting China's private museum landscape, which saw rapid growth in the 2010s but is now experiencing reductions and closures, such as the Jupiter Museum of Art in Shenzhen and TAG Art Museum in Qingdao. Staff members attribute this downturn to reduced corporate sponsorship, falling visitor numbers and income, and escalating operational expenses. Both founders have recently passed away, with Myriam Ullens dying in 2023 and Guy Ullens in April of this year.