The Art Gallery of New South Wales is considering pausing certain in-depth exhibitions and reviewing its membership programs as staff members took their protests against significant job cuts to the steps of Parliament House. The institution announced last month that it would eliminate 51 full-time positions, representing 10 percent of its workforce, in an effort to save $7.5 million approximately three years after opening its contemporary art campus.

NSW Arts Minister John Graham defended the cuts, stating that the gallery must operate within its allocated $109 million budget and noting that current staff levels exceed those at the National Gallery of Victoria. He referenced benchmarks established when the new building was commissioned in 2017, adding that a previous 2024 staff restructure involving 30 jobs had resulted in a net loss of only four positions. However, after meeting with Public Service Association officials last Friday, Graham hinted that final job loss numbers could change, saying his expectation is that the consultation process be thorough and genuine.

On the final day of a five-week consultation period, a small but vocal group of protesters rallied outside Parliament to pressure Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Premier Chris Minns to halt the restructuring. PSA assistant general secretary Troy Wright criticized the cuts, arguing that the gallery's deficit was little more than the $6 million that would be spent re-turfing Allianz Stadium. He emphasized that the staff facing termination are not behind-the-scenes workers but rather curators, educators, designers, and public-facing professionals who make the Art Gallery of NSW world-class.

The gallery is actively searching for savings and new revenue streams to address its budget shortfall while trying to maintain operations. Although officials have ruled out reducing opening days or hours, the institution has announced higher ticket prices beginning next year and plans to lengthen exhibition durations in 2026. A gallery spokesperson confirmed they will continue delivering a visionary and exciting annual program, including two major winter exhibitions and two major summer exhibitions.

The restructuring will particularly impact specialized programming, with some initiatives potentially being suspended. Artist monograph exhibitions and collaborative projects may be paused depending on the final organizational structure. Monograph exhibitions, which typically feature the work of a single artist and represent scholarly efforts to commemorate an artist's life or career, are usually staged annually. The most recent showcased the work of pioneering abstractionist Janet Dawson, with these exhibitions traditionally supported by publications offering in-depth analysis and visual perspectives to broaden public understanding.

The gallery is also conducting a comprehensive review of its membership program, which currently boasts more than 36,000 members, making it the largest visual arts membership base in Australia. Officials are exploring all possibilities for revenue generation but have not determined specific outcomes yet. Additional revenue streams under consideration include increased ticket sales, retail operations, tourism initiatives, and venue hire services. The gallery currently hosts approximately 250 corporate and private events annually, including weddings.

PSA delegate Sharne Fielder reported that only two members of her 17-person team will be unaffected by the restructuring, expressing concern that the gallery may need to dedicate more building space to commercial events. The union raised additional concerns about increasing volunteerism, claiming volunteer numbers have risen from 236 to 297, and argued that paid, unionized jobs should not be replaced with unpaid or contract roles.

The Coalition's arts spokesperson Kevin Anderson criticized Labor's approach, warning that cutting 51 staff members will have unknown impacts on exhibitions and visitor experiences at one of the state's most treasured cultural institutions. He questioned whether exhibitions, tours, outreach programs, and accessibility will suffer with 10 percent fewer staff working at the gallery, highlighting the potential long-term consequences of the budget-driven decisions on the institution's cultural mission and public service.