San Francisco Art Museums Announce Layoffs Amid Budget Challenges

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco announced a round of layoffs on Friday, cutting 12 staff positions—amounting to 5% of the workforce under the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums.

These staffing reductions impact both the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, which together form the city’s largest public arts institutions. The decision is part of a broader strategy to address financial concerns and preserve the organization’s long-term stability.

Director and CEO Thomas P. Campbell stated the layoffs followed months of planning, including in-depth financial analysis and consultation with leadership and trustees. Alongside the staff cuts, the institution has implemented budget-tightening measures and reallocated resources to manage a projected shortfall.

Campbell also pointed to a prolonged decline in tourism as a driving factor. “Our attendance has been down nearly 20% from our pre-pandemic visitor levels,” he said, noting that the drop continues despite strong programming and aggressive fundraising efforts.

Despite the layoffs, the museums remain committed to public engagement. Both institutions offer Free Saturdays to residents of the nine Bay Area counties, allowing access to their permanent collections. General admission is also free on the first Tuesday of each month, though special exhibitions still require paid tickets.

“Our staff is the heart of our museums,” Campbell said, expressing deep appreciation for the employees affected by the cuts. He acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and emphasized the museum’s gratitude for their service.

Reaffirming their core mission, Campbell noted, “Art has the power to inspire, challenge, and unite communities—particularly during periods of change.”

The public is encouraged to support the museums by visiting their current and upcoming exhibitions. At the de Young Museum, Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm runs through October 5, 2025, while The Art of Manga exhibit is scheduled from September through January 2026.

Meanwhile, the Legion of Honor debuts Ferlinghetti for San Francisco this weekend. The exhibition celebrates Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the renowned poet and co-founder of City Lights Bookstore, through his paintings, prints, and drawings. It will remain on view through March 2026.

Visitors can also explore Rodin’s celebrated The Thinker, a 1904 bronze sculpture housed in the Legion of Honor’s permanent collection.