The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has cut 29 positions, constituting nearly 8 percent of the workforce, a decision that has drawn criticism from union representatives amid ongoing contract negotiations. Of those affected, 26 are members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 29, which represents a range of museum staffers.
In a statement, the museum’s director, Christopher Bedford, said the cuts, which include 20 full-time positions and 9 part-time roles, were made because of financial challenges related to the museum’s operations.
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“Although this decision was necessary, we recognize the impacts on affected individuals, and have provided severance packages, including enhanced packages to our union members above what is outlined in our collective bargaining agreement,” Bedford states in the letter.
In a statement to a local outlet, union official Nat Naylor described the notice of the staff cuts as abrupt, saying the museum’s administration gave less than a day’s warning and no official chance to discuss with leadership beforehand. “We weren’t given the chance to assess the rationale, discuss alternatives, or negotiate severance terms,” he said.
Staff identified for redundancy were contacted Wednesday morning. While details remain limited, many who are affected reportedly hold public facing or visitor service roles. A post published on the official Instagram account of the museum’s unionized employees disclosed that an all-staff meeting was scheduled with the museum’s director Christopher Bedford on Wednesday to address employees after the notices were distributed.
It is still unclear whether staffers holding curatorial or senior-level management roles were included in the cuts.
Amid contract talks, the union has expressed concern over both the process and the potential long-term impact on the museum’s workforce, which consists of more than 300 people.
The job cuts come as the museum continues to navigate financial and operational challenges following the pandemic, with labor relations playing a central role in the institution’s decisions. In November 2023, the museum cut 20 staff positions, eliminating seven roles and leaving 13 vacancies unfilled, citing a sharp drop in attendance reportedly linked to broader declines in Bay Area foot traffic since the pandemic. At the time, Bedford described the move as a necessary response to the museum’s current financial realities.
In the fiscal year 2024, the museum reported an operating deficit of $3.6 million, a decrease from the $7.6 million deficit in the previous year. SFMOMA, alongside the de Young, and the Asian Art Museum were among several West Coast institutions to lose key federal funding last month amid the White House’s cuts to humanities grants.