MFA Boston to cut about 33 jobs in workforce reduction aimed at closing budget deficit

Layoffs scheduled to take effect January 30 as museum cites need for a sustainable operating model

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is set to reduce its workforce by 6.3%, a move that museum leadership has framed as part of a restructuring to address what it described internally as an “unsustainable deficit.” The layoffs are expected to take effect Friday, January 30, 2026.

With roughly 520 employees, a 6.3% reduction translates to more than 30 positions. Labor representatives for unionized staff have said the total impact is about 33 jobs, including 16 union members and 17 other employees.

The museum has said the decision followed a review of available options and was tied to efforts to scale back expenses while continuing to carry out its mission as one of the region’s largest cultural institutions. The MFA has not publicly detailed which departments or roles are affected, or how the changes may alter day-to-day operations for visitors and members.

Second major layoff round since 2020, as staffing and finances remain under pressure

This is the second major reduction in force at the MFA within six years. In 2020, the museum cut more than 100 jobs through a combination of voluntary early retirements and layoffs, amid the broader financial disruption that swept museums and performing arts organizations during the pandemic period.

Even as attendance has rebounded from pandemic lows, the museum’s financial picture has remained sensitive to changes in visitor patterns, earned revenue, and operating costs. In its most recent annual financial reporting for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the MFA posted an operating deficit of $1.6 million, and adopted a fiscal 2025 budget projecting a $1.3 million operating deficit. The MFA reported nearly 1 million visitors in fiscal 2024, while also noting that attendance remained below 2019 levels.

Union seeks bargaining over layoffs and disclosure of details

Unionized museum employees ratified a first contract in 2022. In response to the newly announced layoffs, union representatives said they intend to meet and bargain with the museum and have requested detailed information on the reasons for the layoffs, any cost-saving measures considered before staffing cuts, and the anticipated impact on remaining employees’ workloads.

• Workforce reduction: 6.3% of approximately 520 employees
• Estimated jobs affected: about 33 total positions
• Effective date: January 30, 2026
• Union impact cited by labor representatives: 16 union members affected

The workforce reduction is being implemented as part of a restructuring tied to closing an “unsustainable deficit,” the museum told employees in an internal message.

The layoffs come as the MFA is also navigating a leadership transition. Pierre Terjanian, selected by the museum’s board in 2025, is scheduled to assume the director and CEO role on July 1, 2025, following a period of leadership change after the tenure of Matthew Teitelbaum.