Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, laid off approximately 15 percent of its staff on January 9, 2025. The layoffs were announced abruptly during an afternoon Zoom call without prior warning, according to former employees, though the museum offered severance packages. Museum representatives attributed the cuts to reduced funding and stated the decision was approved by the board’s executive committee.
The layoffs at Telfair Museums, the oldest public art museum in the South, signal financial strain at a historic institution that operates four distinct sites, including the Telfair Academy, the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, and the Jepson Center. The cuts raise concerns about the sustainability of mid-sized regional museums amid shifting funding landscapes and could affect programming, visitor services, and the preservation of the museum’s significant collections.