The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles Has Laid Off More Than Half Its Staff Amid an Indefinite Closure

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, which has
struggled for years with budgetary and operational issues, has laid
off all 97 of its part-time employees as the museum remains closed
for the foreseeable future amid the intensifying global health
crisis sparked by the coronavirus outbreak.

These positions include gallery attendants, exhibition
installers, retail and educational staff, and audiovisual crew. The
cuts were made in part so that workers could file for
unemployment benefits and cash out accrued vacation pay, the museum
said. Prior to the layoffs, the total staff was roughly 185,
meaning the cuts represent over 50 percent of the staff.

“We are all facing extremely difficult
circumstances created by COVID-19,” according to a statement issued
by the museum. “The desire to support community health and
well-being in accordance with government mandates requires MOCA to
take significant measures in order to protect the public and the
future of the institution.”

The museum said the layoffs are temporary and that it hopes all
employees are able to return to work when the museum reopens. All
of the positions that have been terminated require staff to work in
the museum during public hours, and cannot be performed remotely,
the museum said. The employees will be paid through the end of
the month.

“We are continuing to work closely with MOCA’s union labor
partner during these difficult times,” the institution said in a
statement.

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, one of the museum’s
locations, will remain closed to the public through the
summer, and galleries on Grand Avenue will reopen when applicable
law and logistics permit. Meanwhile, the opening of a major survey
of Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist was pushed from mid-May to
September.

MOCA said it will continue to evaluate its programmatic schedule
and staffing needs as the situation evolves.

“These are unprecedented times and we recognize the painful
effect of these measures,” the museum said.

The post The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles Has
Laid Off More Than Half Its Staff Amid an Indefinite Closure
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