Art Gallery of NSW to cut jobs, citing need to ‘make ongoing savings’

As has been reported widely by mainstream publications this week, the Art Gallery of NSW is set to cut dozens of roles as part of a restructure, so that it can “stay within its budget, and operate sustainably”.

As first reported earlier this week by The Sydney Morning Herald, the Art Gallery of NSW is moving to save $7.5 million annually, including through a reduction in headcount, with dozens of roles reportedly to be impacted.

In a statement to HR Leader, a spokesperson for the Art Gallery of NSW said: “Like all cultural institutions, the Art Gallery of New South Wales must respond to the changing environment, stay within its budget, and operate sustainably.

“To do this, the Art Gallery needs to make ongoing savings and plan for the future. The Art Gallery has begun staff consultation on a proposed structure to ensure resources are aligned with government priorities.

“The proposed organisational change reflects our operational requirements, future programming and ambitions for the Art Gallery, its collections, and its audiences. The wellbeing of staff is the Art Gallery’s top priority, and we’re committed to supporting our people throughout this process.”

The news follows the High Court of Australia’s recent decision in Helensburgh Coal Pty Ltd v Bartley, upholding a lower court’s finding that the dismissals of 22 workers operating out of Peabody’s Helensburgh mine were not genuine redundancies – a decision that serves as a wake-up call to employers.

HR Leader has also reported extensively on redundancy rounds at businesses across the country in recent months, including those at WaterNSW, Atlassian, Indeed and Glassdoor, Telstra, Westpac, and CBA.