Lots of cutback news from museums this week. Yesterday it was the Met in New York. Much more seriously, on Monday the beleaguered Detroit Institute of the Arts announced that it’s laying off 20% of its staff — 63 people — in an attempt to cut $6 million from its $34 million operating budget. It doesn’t help that the new state budget proposed earlier this month by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm would eliminate all operational arts funding, which had provided the DIA with $950,000 this year.
And now this morning the High Museum in Atlanta is announcing $1.4 million in budget cuts, including across the board pay cuts and a 7% staff reduction. This is from the High announcement:
The High has instituted a series of pay cuts across the board, starting with the Director’s office. Michael Shapiro will take a 7% pay cut and other Director-level employees will take a 6% pay cut. All other employees will take a 5% pay cut. These cuts will extend through May 31, 2009. Beginning June 1 and extending through fiscal year 2010, salaries will be reinstated but employees will be required to take 2.6 weeks of unpaid leave.
But at least the High says it’s still operating in the black.