The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) recently made the difficult decision to lay off 20 workers due to financial strain caused by changes in enrollment. This included the termination of three positions within the Video Data Bank, a vital resource for early, experimental, and contemporary video art. The layoffs impacted various departments across the institution, with a total of 15 additional employees let go outside of the Video Data Bank.
Myia Brown, assistant director of Career and Professional Experience at SAIC and president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union representing workers at the institution, shared that six union positions were eliminated in the cuts. The university cited a decline in international student enrollment as a contributing factor to their financial struggles, a trend being observed in universities nationwide.
Despite the layoffs, SAIC assured that the institution remains committed to the Video Data Bank and its contribution to the art community. Tom Colley, the former director of the Video Data Bank, confirmed that his position was among those affected by the layoffs, leaving only two staff members remaining. Established in 1976, the Video Data Bank has been a crucial distributor of contemporary video works to cultural institutions, libraries, and academic establishments, boasting a collection of works by renowned artists.
In response to concerns about the impact of the staff cuts on the Video Data Bank, a spokesperson for SAIC emphasized that the institution’s decision was necessary to protect its core teaching mission while ensuring the preservation of the Video Data Bank’s future. Kate Horsfield, the retired founding director of the Video Data Bank, expressed the program’s significance as a primary provider of video art to various institutions and a platform for emerging artists.
The community has expressed apprehension about the implications of the layoffs on the distribution of video art and the support provided to artists. The decision to reduce staffing levels at the Video Data Bank raises questions about the future accessibility and promotion of video art within educational and cultural settings. As the art community navigates these changes, the impact of these layoffs on artists and the broader art landscape remains a topic of concern.
