As Tech Layoffs Proceed, Meta Slashes Arts Program Workers
As mass layoffs ravage the tech trade, Meta (previously Fb) has reduce workers in its Open Arts program, a comparatively small staff that commissions installations for its workplace buildings the world over in addition to artwork for its digital platforms.
Meta laid off 11,000 individuals final week (about 13% of its employees), together with senior staff at Open Arts. Chief Curator Matthew Israel introduced his termination on November 12 on LinkedIn, stating he was let associate with “most of my (superior) Open Arts group.” The strategic partnerships supervisor and communications and content material strategist additionally used the networking platform to announce their terminations, and the technique and operations lead posted a remark alluding to the tip of her time on the firm as properly.
Though it’s unclear how many individuals labored for Open Arts earlier than the layoffs, Artnet reported in February of this 12 months that the staff comprised round 25 full-time staff and 25 contractors. Most of the employees have posted about their layoffs, but it surely doesn’t seem that Meta has reduce this system solely: Open Arts lead Tina Vaz, who led communications on the Solomon H. Guggenheim Basis earlier than beginning at Meta in 2019, nonetheless seems to go Open Arts and commented form statements on her colleagues’ posts.
Open Arts labored on initiatives together with a Could synthetic intelligence exhibition by artist Sofia Crespo in Occasions Sq., exhibits at their worldwide workplace buildings (together with installations at their New York workplaces at Moynihan Practice Corridor and the Farley Constructing), and a 2020 fee by artist Troy Lamarr Chew II comprising artworks encouraging individuals to vote, with QR codes linking to Fb’s voting data heart.
“This goodbye can also be robust as a result of it’s left me with myriad desires deferred,” wrote former strategic packages supervisor Rafael Flores in his November 10 LinkedIn announcement. “It’s the primary time I’ve left a job pondering: ‘However there’s a lot extra I wish to do!’”
A Meta spokesperson reached by Hyperallergic stated the corporate declined to remark for this text.