Carnegie Museums furlough workers

Anticipating deficits of nearly $1.4 million a month due the coronavirus closure, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh announced it is temporarily furloughing some staff members.

In a statement Monday, Carnegie Museums said its Museums of Art and Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum would remain closed for at least two months, much longer than the two weeks first anticipated.

The staff members being furloughed are those unable to work from home or whose roles are not required during a prolonged period of closure, the statement said.

In addition, the organization is instituting temporary pay reductions for the remaining staff.

“In light of the grave forecasts we are receiving, we expect our museums to remain closed for another two months, and perhaps longer,” said Stephen Knapp, president and CEO of the museums.

“We’re committed to doing our part, both to protect the health of our staff and visitors and to help slow the spread of the covid-19 virus,” Knapp said. ”At the same time, to sustain our museums for the duration of the closure and beyond, we are making some very painful decisions that we would never have imagined making only a month ago.”

Bill Hunt, chair of Carnegie Museum’s board of trustees, said the trustees support the measures.

“By responding quickly, we feel the four Carnegie Museums, which are such important assets to our community, will be in the best possible position to reopen once this terrible pandemic has passed,” Hunt said.