The Science Museum of Minnesota is laying off 15 employees, and another 15 positions are being eliminated.
According to a spokesperson, attendance at the St. Paul attraction has not recovered from the pandemic, resulting in a budget shortfall in 2023.
The cuts will take effect before the fiscal year ends in June. Due to reduced operations during the pandemic, the museum furloughed nearly 40% of its staff in 2020. During the pandemic, it also received $6.5 million in forgivable Payment Protection Plan loans.
The museum claims that the staff reduction, along with other revenue and expense changes, has balanced the budget.
According to ProPublica, the museum’s net endowment assets were $41.2 million as of June 2022.
According to the Star Tribune, the Science Museum employed around 350 people prior to the layoffs, which is about 30% less than pre-pandemic staffing levels. The museum typically receives around $1 million from the state each year, but has requested $3 million in 2023.
According to the American Alliance of Museums, museums across the United States took a huge financial hit from the pandemic and will take years to recover.
According to the museum’s website, it was founded in 1907.
