IAAM Furloughs All Staff for 20 Days as Funding Pressure Mounts
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 15
IAAM Furloughs All Staff for 20 Days as Funding Pressure Mounts
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 15
Summary
Starting in July, Charleston’s International African American Museum will furlough all employees for 20 days on a staggered basis through Dec. 31, while keeping the museum fully open.
The museum said the move is meant to cut costs without layoffs as a tougher political and funding environment strains finances and pushes it to focus on sustainable revenue growth and fundraising.
Leadership will also take part in the furloughs, which the museum said were chosen over deeper cuts to preserve the team despite the impact on workers and their families.
Opened on June 27, 2023 after two decades of planning, the museum stands at Gadsden’s Wharf, where about 40% of Africans trafficked to what became the U.S. first landed; it topped 500,000 visitors earlier this year.