Vasari Art Codex

article news schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 3 link 3 artists, 1 gallery

museum workers tate strike met union 2720847

Workers at two major museums, the Tate in the U.K. and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, are taking labor action to demand higher wages and job security. Over 150 Tate staff from the PCS Tate United union went on strike across four locations, with picketing at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, and Tate Liverpool, disrupting the opening of the exhibition "Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals." Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 employees at the Met have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a union election, which would be one of the largest museum unions in the U.S.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Apr 26, 2026 visibility 8 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

Korea’s art market grows, but working conditions for entry-level workers do not

A 20-something intern at a small Seoul gallery, identified as Park, accepted a job paying 1.35 million won ($910) per month after taxes—below South Korea's minimum wage—because she believed early experience was essential for career advancement in the art world. The article, based on interviews with the Korea JoongAng Daily, reveals that many entry-level workers face low pay and precarious conditions, exacerbated by a severe oversupply of arts graduates (48,000 annually) versus only about 3,523 job postings per year on the industry site Art More, leading to reliance on personal connections and informal hiring.

newspaper Korea JoongAng Daily open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 5, 2026 visibility 2

louvre reopens delay galleries closed staff strike 1234768758

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened to the public on Monday after a three-hour delay, though several galleries remained closed as staff resumed strike action over pay, working conditions, and staffing levels. The renewed strike follows a pause on December 19 for the Christmas holiday and is part of ongoing disputes between unions and museum management. The museum has also faced recent challenges, including a $102 million jewel theft in October and infrastructure problems such as a water leak that damaged ancient books.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 2

lacma workers vote to unionize afscme 1234767316

Workers at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) voted to unionize with AFSCME District Council 36, forming LACMA United. The union will represent approximately 300 employees, including curators and art handlers. The vote took place electronically after LACMA leadership declined to voluntarily recognize the union in November, opting instead for an election overseen by the American Arbitration Association and approved by the National Labor Relations Board. 96 percent of those voting supported the unionization effort.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Oct 28, 2025 visibility 1

Hundreds at London’s British Library go on strike, as Tate workers consider action

Around 300 workers at the British Library in London have gone on strike from 27 October to 9 November over a pay dispute, organized by the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS). The strike threatens to disrupt the opening of the major exhibition "Secret Maps" (until 18 January 2026). Meanwhile, more than 100 PCS members across Tate's four sites are being balloted for possible strike action, with a postal ballot closing on 11 November. The unions demand inflation-proof pay rises, citing low wages that force employees to take second jobs and loans, while management offers increases of 2.4% at the British Library and 3% at Tate.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 30, 2026 visibility 3 link 1 artist

Russia's winter bombardment puts strain on Ukrainian museum workers

UNESCO has expressed serious concern over recent Russian attacks damaging cultural heritage sites in Ukrainian cities including Odesa, Lviv, and Kyiv. The winter bombardment has targeted power grids and infrastructure, complicating the work of museums and cultural institutions. The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a World Heritage Site, suffered its first military damage since WWII, and the historic center of Odesa, already on UNESCO's endangered list, saw its Holy Dormition Monastery severely hit.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original