"On November 12, 2025, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) "gutted" Video Data Bank (VDB), the essential moving-image art distributor, archive and streaming platform. The elimination of 60% of its staff, including director Tom Colley, and announcement that it would as a result of this reduction no longer acquire new work, sent shock waves through the video art community, including the hundreds of artists represented by the distributor."
"I am reaching out to express my deep sorrow and dismay at the recent termination of three of the five key staff of the Video Data Bank, and to learn that the VDB will be restructured to no longer acquire new work. I understand these staff were escorted from their offices by security and immediately shut out from their email accounts, rendering them unable to contact external parties impacted (such as the 600+ artists they represent)."
On November 12, 2025, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago implemented major reductions at Video Data Bank, cutting 60% of its staff and removing director Tom Colley. The restructuring includes a decision that the VDB will no longer acquire new work. Multiple staff members were escorted from offices and had email access revoked, preventing outreach to over 600 represented artists. The move has provoked strong concern across the video art community and among students. Angelo Madsen, an SAIC alumnus and VDB-listed artist, submitted an open letter expressing sorrow and noting the VDB's foundational role for students and emerging artists. Tom Colley also issued a public comment.
Read at Filmmaker Magazine
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