Twin Cities Museum Collective

Building collective power in Twin Cities museums. DM or email us at [email protected].

[Becky Tuch @BeckyLTuch]

So much labor (paid & unpaid) makes museums possible. I'm thrilled to have a piece about this @monkeybicycle today!

@UMWpgh @MuseumSkint @newmuseum_union @TCMuseums @ArtWorkerUnion @ArtandLaborPod @saic_naj @PMA_Union @cultureworkers @MuseumWorkers @museum_detox @newmuseum_union

[Art + Museum Transparency @AMTransparency]

Very happy to join this effort @DIRTDMV!

The Annotated Bibliography of Institutional Callouts: a “living archive” (ie please submit new/missing info!) of activism addressing art organizations and institutions.

https://t.co/40uvCY56gD

[Art + Museum Transparency @AMTransparency]

We heard from someone who’s organizing for frontline worker hazard pay at a US museum. They’re wondering:

1. If any museums out there are offering it and if so, how much.

2. If any groups of museum workers are demanding it and what their specific demands are.

Reply or dm us!

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

Though happy to see some more than symbolic cuts to executive pay. @mnhs @walkerartcenter @artsmia should take note.

"Since April, Brown has taken a 75% pay cut and other leaders have taken 60% pay cuts while working to make 'certain the museum is viable for the long-term'"

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

Devastating news continues to roll in for Twin Cities Museums. This one hurts. @sciencemuseummn laying off 158 people.

[The Minnesota Star Tribune @StarTribune]

The Science Museum of Minnesota is the latest large nonprofit to cut employees, laying off 158 staffers, or nearly 40% of its workforce. https://t.co/BV83fyIFqL

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

@smitscaitlin Amazing. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

Mutual aid fund for Walker FOH staff who were laid off last month 🙌 Support this critical work if you're able!

[Caitlin Smits @smitscaitlin]

https://t.co/QCLI3CDdxW

Mutual aid fund for my fellow FOH walker staff who were laid off last month.

[UNICORN RIOT @UR_Ninja]

#LIVE: New #BlackLivesMatter Mural Outside of #Minnesota's only #AfricanAmerican #History Museum https://t.co/PIXgazUWp7

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

https://t.co/cd8ZUxoXvB

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

Another 40 staff at @mnhs were laid off today, bringing the total to 216. That's 1/3 of the staff. Plus 34 furlough extensions. Speechless.

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

We just got word that @mnhs is laying off 176 people. This is devastating. The director has only taken a 20% cut, and the rest of leadership have only taken 10% cuts. This is so far from adequate. 1/3

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

@goldfnch @erodley Can't believe what MNHS is putting you all through. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help :(

[Star Tribune Going Out @StribGoingOut]

Minnesota Museum of American Art has fired longtime executive director Kristin Makholm, who rebuilt the organization from near-bankruptcy and led it into a renovated St. Paul landmark.

https://t.co/U1HpOXQQtV

[cryptobard @crypt0bard]

"What we need to do though, is completely reimagine the board and experiment with some new structures."
https://t.co/vt7CFuFauM

[Art + Museum Transparency @AMTransparency]

If you’re worried about the tone of recent museum protests and your vision of change rests on winning the hearts and minds of executives and board members, please read this thread from @catchatweetdown:

[Art + Museum Transparency @AMTransparency]

A lot of museum professionals are wondering how best to be leaders for positive change in the museum field right now.

Is pursuing promotion into upper management and the executive ranks the best way, the only way?

Our answer:

[Art + Museum Transparency @AMTransparency]

More museum workers unionizing during the pandemic: joining @PMA_Union is a new union drive across four Pittsburgh museums!!Around 500 staff involved. Follow them @UMWpgh and stream tonight when they virtually drop off of their union authorization cards!!

https://t.co/us1JY7j9iO

[Art + Museum Transparency @AMTransparency]

89/ @artinstitutechi #Museumlayoffs : Art Institute lays off 51 ft staff from across depts, a week after staff organized to avoid layoffs: “Several of those who signed the letter, which also offers alternatives to layoffs, have since been laid off. “
https://t.co/zgqtjyKk5c

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

In the past few weeks it's become clear that MIA staff are fed up with the lip service. Happy to see NGA workers aren't falling for that bullshit either. Don't ease off the pressure. Standing in solidarity with all of you ✊ 3/3

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

"The last plantation on the National Mall." Damn.

This coming from "the nation's museum" is a rallying cry for all of us--these demands need to be heard in every museum. First, make sure to sign to support NGA workers! 1/3

[Twin Cities Museum Collective @TCMuseums]

Also can't ignore the parallels between the @artsmia petition and this one from @ngadc, and the fact that Kaywin came from the MIA and went to NGA. Clearly leadership isn't capable of tackling these systemic issues without pressure from workers. 2/3