Guggenheim Layoffs
Guggenheim Museum workers and supporters rallied outside the institution
Greetings Warriors
I want to talk about something that struck a nerve in the battlefield of culture — and if you're like me, someone who values both art and the hands behind the masterpiece, then this one’s going to hit hard.
On April 16, as New York's elite sipped wine at the Guggenheim's newest exhibition opening, a different kind of scene unfolded outside its spiral doors — one not framed in gold, but in protest signs and raw emotion. Over 50 cultural workers gathered not for celebration, but for resistance.
The Silent Layoffs Heard Loud and Clear
Without a whisper of warning, 20 staffers were abruptly let go from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum — many of them part of the Local 2110 United Auto Workers (UAW) union. There were no thank yous. No transitions. Just cold cuts and locked doors.
This marks the museum’s third round of layoffs in just five years, all while ticket prices go up and hiring freezes keep doors closed for the next generation of art workers.
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Protesters Rise at the Guggenheim Steps
As the opening reception for Rashid Johnson’s solo show lit up the evening, cultural workers turned the sidewalk into a stage of a different kind.
With chants like “Guggenheim’s cheap!” and “Up with the union, down with the layoffs!”, the message was loud, clear, and unfiltered: you can’t lay off the soul of the museum and expect silence.
United Museums Stand Together
This wasn’t just a Guggenheim fight. Warriors from across the art world showed up. Workers from the New Museum, MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, Dia, and the Hispanic Society locked arms in solidarity.
They held signs, marched with purpose, and handed out fliers that urged the public to email Guggenheim leadership and stand for the unseen hands behind every gallery wall.
A Warrior's Testimony: Maureen’s Story
Maureen Ahearn, a 64-year-old warrior who had worked at the Guggenheim since 1992, stood among the crowd. Her voice, though soft, cut through the noise. She had dedicated decades to the museum’s archives and library — only to be dismissed without warning.
“They could’ve moved me to another job… but there was no notice,” she said.
Warriors, this isn’t just about layoffs. It’s about dignity, legacy, and the respect we all deserve after a lifetime of service.
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A Tone-Deaf Celebration Inside
As guests in suits and heels awkwardly walked past the protest to attend the opening, the disconnect was jarring.
They were stepping over the very people who made the museum's magic possible — archivists, educators, staffers, many of whom now face unemployment and uncertainty in a harsh post-pandemic market.
This wasn’t just another opening night. It was a night of economic and emotional betrayal.
The Response From the Guggenheim
When pressed for answers, the museum issued a statement acknowledging “financial constraints” and claimed all terms of the UAW Local 2110 contract had been followed.
But here's the problem: technical compliance doesn’t equal moral leadership. When people who helped build the foundation of your institution are let go without grace or empathy, it says more about your values than any statement ever could.
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Growing Pains Across the Culture Sector
The Guggenheim isn’t alone in this. The Brooklyn Museum recently halted a controversial plan to shrink its workforce after backlash. They had already laid off five non-union workers and offered buyouts to 27 others before putting the brakes on.
It’s a reminder that across the nation, cultural institutions are feeling the strain — but the cuts often start with the people at the bottom, never the top.
Warriors Don’t Go Quiet
So what do we do, Warriors?
We keep showing up. We tell the truth. We don’t stay silent when the voices of our community are silenced.
Because museums aren’t just buildings.
They’re stories, sweat, and sacred labor.
They’re archives built by people like Maureen.
They’re protests that refuse to be polite.
To every warrior who stood outside the Guggenheim that night — I see you.
To every museum that forgets the power of its people — we’re watching.
