The Fine Art Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) and the Asian Art Museum face budget-related layoffs and reduced operating hours due to a projected 15% cut in city funding. FAMSF plans to eliminate 23 city-funded positions, primarily affecting security staff, and close museums on Tuesdays. The Asian Art Museum also anticipates layoffs of 13 security guards. These cuts aim to address a significant municipal budget deficit, with expected visitor reductions of up to 150,000 annually, affecting community access and particularly impacting marginalized staff roles.
"It is our understanding that the mayor's office does not want to see a reduction of operating hours at the de Young and Legion of Honor," a spokesperson for FAMSF said in a statement, "and we are working closely with the mayor's budget office to analyse the proposal and look for other cost-reduction opportunities."
The Asian Art Museum's reduction in guards would save the city $1.7m. Many of these jobs are currently held by people of colour.
FAMSF’s own estimates state that closing the de Young and Legion of Honor an additional day per week would "reduce visitation by up to 150,000 visitors over one year" and student visits could drop by 25%.
According to the Chronicle, a majority of the layoffs would affect the museums' security teams—20 full-time guards would be let go from FAMSF, saving the city $2.6m.
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