The trail of staff cuts trickling throughout cultural institutions in the United States appears to continue across the pond, as the Tate museums in the United Kingdom are trimming 7% of its workforce to address a post-pandemic deficit.
Approximately 40 roles have been impacted by the cutbacks, made through voluntary exits and hiring freezes, the Financial Times initially reported, although a Tate spokesperson told Hyperallergic that it is “not yet possible to confirm what the exact change in the number of roles has been.”
Sharon Brown, the National Secretary for Heritage for the Prospect trade union (one of three organizations representing workers at the Tate), told the Guardian that it is working with the institution on the planned restructuring and would give support to impacted museum workers, who are frequently underpaid in the cultural sector.
“Budget cuts and the impact of the pandemic have hit the sector hard and more must be done to invest in these institutions and the workforce, which are an essential part of our domestic and international visitor economy as well as of Britain’s cultural landscape,” Brown told the British news outlet.
Hyperallergic has reached out to the Prospect, FDA, and Tate United Public and Commercial Services unions for comment.
The Tate, which manages four museums in London, Liverpool, and Cornwall, saw a significant drop in visitorship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although domestic foot traffic across cultural institutions in the UK has recently strengthened, international attendance has continued to lag behind in comparison to pre-pandemic figures. In its 2023–24 financial report, the Tate recorded an increase of 370,000 visitors compared to the previous year, but its overall attendance was still three quarters of pre-pandemic levels.
Compounding this slow audience recovery, the British cultural sector has been under pressure to reduce spending due to government budget cuts. While the Tate generates most of its income from non-government sources, including admissions to temporary exhibitions, private donors, and fundraising, it does receive grant funding from the UK government’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Last year, the institution’s trustees approved another deficit budget using reserve funds generated in 2021–22 and 2022–23. The decision was made “to give Tate time to develop a new financially sustainable business model which will support the organisation’s strategic objectives and respond to visitor expectations,” according to the Tate’s recent financial report.
“To eliminate the deficit leftover from the pandemic, we have strengthened new income streams, strategically prioritised our most impactful activities, and carefully streamlined our workforce,” the Tate said in a statement shared with Hyperallergic.
“This streamlining has been achieved through voluntary means – by not replacing vacant roles and by accepting voluntary exits — working closely with colleagues and unions over a number of months,” the statement continued.
The staff cuts come in advance of the Tate Modern’s 25th birthday celebrations, which will consist of free programming and involve the return of Louise Bourgeois’s colossal arachnid sculpture “Maman” (1999) to the museum’s Turbine Hall. The reduced workforce also comes amid the restoration of the artist Barbara Hepworth’s former studio at the Tate St. Ives, and a £30 million refurbishment project at the Tate Liverpool, which was recently postponed due to funding pressures.
Dozens of roles have reportedly been impacted by the cutbacks, made through voluntary exits and hiring freezes.
