More than 100 staff working at the Art Gallery of NSW and their supporters gathered at the Domain on August 27 to protest NSW Labor鈥檚 plan to cut 51 jobs from the gallery workforce.
It was the first walk-out by members of the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) at the gallery in 10 years.
They chanted 鈥淣o more cuts鈥, and carried placards with over the iconic portrait of the Mona Lisa, with the words 鈥淎rt Attack鈥 emblazoned on the front. Other placards included: 鈥淣o job cuts: Art for all鈥 and 鈥淎rt 4 Ever鈥.
The gallery is being forced to 鈥渟ave鈥 $7.5 million by slashing one in eight full-time-equivalent roles.
The August 27 Canberra Times reported PSA organiser Anne Keneally saying: 鈥淭hese are not excess roles; these are not luxuries; these are the people who are the heart and soul of the gallery. They are more than a number.鈥
She pointed out that the gallery now had two venues 鈥測et staff will be expected to deliver more with less鈥.
The draft 鈥渞estructure鈥 reduces the gallery鈥檚 workforce from 382 to 330 full-time-equivalent roles.聽In June Labor announced cuts of one quarter in its Create NSW arts funding agency staff.
鈥淚s the art gallery a place for art or a party venue for government photo ops?,鈥 Keneally asked the rally.
The Australian Financial Review asked how Chris Minn鈥檚 government can 鈥渇ind $50 million for [an upgrade of] Leichhardt Oval鈥 but not $7 million to support the world鈥檚 25th most-visited cultural institution.
A PSA organiser Claudia Bianchi told the rally: "These cuts show a lack of respect towards the cultural sector. This truly is an 鈥榓rt attack鈥.鈥
Tony Wright, assistant general secretary of the PSA, saying on August 27: 鈥淥ur members have had a gutful 鈥 these are public-facing roles [and] there鈥檚 only one manager included in these cuts 鈥 The public will notice these cuts. If you enjoy the聽gallery, then you need to know that the amount of exhibitions and their quality is in the firing line.鈥
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