The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) laid off more than half of the staff at the Video Data Bank (VDB) on November 12, eliminating three of five positions, including the director, digital collection and media manager, and a distribution assistant. The VDB, founded in 1976 and approaching its 50th anniversary, distributes video artworks to museums and institutions worldwide, with a collection featuring artists like Nam June Paik, Bruce Nauman, and Pipilotti Rist. SAIC cited financial pressures from federal policy changes and enrollment declines, stating the cuts were necessary to protect the academic mission and preserve the VDB's future, though former staff and industry figures have condemned the decision.
The downsizing matters because the Video Data Bank is a unique, globally used resource for video art, and its staffing reduction threatens acquisitions, programming, and distribution at a time when federal arts funding has already been cut. The layoffs highlight the vulnerability of specialized archival institutions under financial strain and shifting policy priorities, sparking concern across the arts community about the preservation and accessibility of moving-image art history. The formation of an artist-led group called VDB Forever signals ongoing efforts to secure the organization's future.