The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston recently announced a staff reduction, resulting in the layoff of 33 workers, representing a 6.3% decrease in staff. This decision, which will take effect on Friday, will impact 16 union members across various roles within the institution. Additionally, 23 vacancies were eliminated as part of the restructuring process.
MFA Boston’s Director of Communications, Karen Frascona, confirmed the layoffs in an email to Hyperallergic, stating that the museum is open to meeting with the Union to discuss the impact of these changes. However, Local 2110 UAW representative Chelsea Farrell expressed deep concerns about the layoffs, highlighting the strain it will place on affected staff and the remaining workforce. Farrell emphasized the importance of the staff members in maintaining the institution’s excellence and expressed disappointment in the decision.
Pierre Terjanian, the Director of MFA Boston, justified the layoffs as a necessary measure to address a projected $13 million deficit. With salaries and benefits accounting for 55% of the annual budget, the staff reduction is expected to save approximately $5.4 million overall. In addition to the layoffs, the museum plans to sell a plot of land in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, intended for a center for its collection.
The MFA Boston union, established in 2020 following a mass staff reduction due to the pandemic, is set to meet with museum representatives to discuss potential retention strategies. The union aims to ensure shared sacrifice from museum leadership if further layoffs are necessary. Paul McAlpine, a former employee with over 28 years of service at MFA Boston, expressed distress over losing his job and the financial implications it entails.
The layoffs at MFA Boston reflect a trend of staff cuts in cultural institutions nationwide, including prominent museums like the Guggenheim Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Among those affected by the layoffs at MFA Boston are key staff members like Marina Tyquiengco, the museum’s first curator of Native American Art, and Nadirah Mansour, its inaugural assistant curator of Islamic Art.
Overall, the layoffs at MFA Boston have sparked concerns about the impact on both staff and the institution’s operations. As the museum navigates these changes, it remains crucial to prioritize the well-being of its employees and uphold its commitment to preserving and showcasing art for the public.
