British arts institution Tate is cutting 7 percent of its workforce in order to address a funding deficit left over from the pandemic.
Around 40 roles have been affected by the cuts at Tate, which has four galleries – two in London, and two more in Liverpool and Cornwall.
A Tate spokesperson told the Guardian: “Tate has an ambitious programme to grow our audiences across the nation and beyond.
“To eliminate the deficit left over from the pandemic, we have strengthened new income streams, strategically prioritised our most impactful activities, and carefully streamlined our workforce.”
Tate achieved this “by not replacing vacant roles and by accepting voluntary exits, working closely with colleagues and unions over a number of months”, the spokesperson said.
They added: “Such changes ensure we have the stability we need to continue being as ambitious and innovative as ever.”
Currently, Tate Liverpool is undergoing a £30 million redevelopment, and Tate St Ives in Cornwall restoring and reopening the Palais de Danse, formerly Barbara Hepworth‘s studio.
US institutions including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Brooklyn Museum in New York are also reducing their workforces.
The Guggenheim is laying off 20 employees across the institution due to rising costs and lower attendance, it revealed earlier this month.
Before that, the Brooklyn Museum announced it was reducing its employees and exhibitions over a budget deficit.
Layoffs at US institutions
The Prospect union said it was engaging with Tate on the planned layoffs and would support any staff affected, the Guardian reports.
Prospect’s national secretary for heritage, Sharon Brown, said: “Budget cuts and the impact of the pandemic have hit the sector hard and more must be done to invest in these institutions and the workforce, which are an essential part of our domestic and international visitor economy as well as of Britain’s cultural landscape.”
Images courtesy of Tate
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