The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston laid off 33 staff members, including several curators of color, prompting accusations that the cuts disproportionately targeted minority employees. Director Pierre Terjanian issued a statement denying the claim, asserting that the percentage of staff identifying as people of color remained unchanged at one-third. Among those let go were Marina Tyquiengco, associate curator of Native American art; Nadirah Mansour, assistant curator of Islamic art; and theo tyson, a curator in fashion arts who was reportedly the only Black curator at the museum. A union representative said workers were notified only five minutes before the public announcement, and no leadership took pay cuts despite the elimination of the COO position.
This controversy matters because it highlights ongoing tensions between museums' stated commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the real-world impact of budget-driven restructuring. The layoffs come during a political climate hostile to DEI initiatives, and the targeting of curators focused on marginalized communities raises questions about institutional priorities. The viral social media response—an Instagram Reel with over 50,000 likes—shows how quickly such decisions can erode public trust and spark broader scrutiny of museum leadership and their treatment of staff of color.