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Staff from the Art Gallery of NSW have taken their protests about job cuts to the steps of Parliament House as the institution reveals it is reviewing its membership program, ticket sales, venue hire and even considering pausing certain types of in-depth exhibitions in light of the cutbacks.
The Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) announced last month the loss of 51 full-time jobs, or 10 per cent of its workforce, to save it $7.5 million, some three years after the opening of its contemporary art campus.
Protesters gather outside Parliament House on Tuesday. Credit: James Brickwood
NSW Arts Minister John Graham says the gallery needs to operate within its allocated $109 million budget with staff levels exceeding those at the National Gallery of Victoria and levels benchmarked when the new building was commissioned in 2017. A 2024 staff restructure of 30 jobs had resulted in a net loss of four positions.
But after meeting officials of the Public Service Association (PSA) last Friday, he hinted final job loss numbers could move about.
“I met with the union last week to hear their perspective,” he said in a statement. “My expectation is that the consultation process is thorough and genuine. I would expect changes as a result.”
On the final day of a five-week period of consultation, a small but vocal group rallied outside Parliament to step up pressure on Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Premier Chris Minns and call for a halt to any restructure.
PSA’s assistant general secretary Troy Wright said the gallery’s deficit was little more than the $6 million, he said, that would be spent returfing Allianz Stadium.
“The staff facing the axe are not sitting behind closed doors – they are curators, educators, designers and public-facing professionals who make the Art Gallery of NSW world-class,” Wright said. “This is not reform – it’s a calculated attack on the people who bring this gallery to life.”
The move comes as the AGNSW revealed it is searching for savings and new revenue streams to address its budget shortfall. While it has ruled out cuts to opening days or hours, the gallery has flagged higher ticketed prices from next year. The duration of exhibitions is also expected to lengthen in 2026.
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“We will continue to deliver a visionary and exciting annual program, including two major winter exhibitions and two major summer exhibitions,” a gallery spokesperson said.
“From next year, our exhibition schedule will be adjusted to lengthen the duration of exhibitions in line with the practices of other national and global art museums. Depending on the final organisational structure, some initiatives, such as artist monograph exhibitions and collaborative projects, may be paused.”
Monograph exhibitions feature the work of a single artist, usually a result of a scholarly effort to commemorate the life or career of an artist.
Usually, one of these exhibitions is staged annually, the latest showcasing the work of pioneering abstractionist, Janet Dawson. These exhibitions are supported by publications offering in-depth analysis and visual perspectives of the artist’s work to broaden public understanding.
Aspects of the AGNSW’s membership program is also under review.
“All possibilities are being explored as part of a thorough review of our revenue, but no outcomes have been determined at this stage,” the spokesperson said. “The Art Gallery is proud to have the largest visual arts membership base in Australia, with more than 36,000 current members, and we look forward to continued growth.”
The AGNSW is also looking to identify opportunities for growth through ticket sales, retail, tourism, venue hire and other revenue streams. It hosts about 250 corporate and private events annually, including weddings.
PSA delegate, Sharne Fielder, says only two of her team of 17 will be unaffected by the restructure. She worries the gallery would need to dedicate more building space to commercial events.
The union said it was concerned about “creeping volunteerism”, claiming volunteer numbers had risen from 236 to 297. Paid, unionised jobs should not be replaced with unpaid or contract roles, the union said.
The Coalition’s arts spokesperson Kevin Anderson said Labor’s attack on jobs at the art gallery would have unknown impacts on exhibitions and visitor experiences at one of the state’s most treasured cultural icons.
“Cutting 51 staff will have unknown impacts on the operation of the gallery and raises questions around whether exhibitions, tours, outreach programs and access will also be on the chopping block with 10 per cent less staff working at the gallery,” he said.
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