Brooklyn Museum Reviews

Unbelievably low pay. A recent survey of the conservation field ranks my current salary (for comparable institutions) in the bottom 10% of the field. Benefits although good, rank in the 50%, meaning they are average. HR claims to offer "competitive salary and benefits", but this is completely untrue. Most of my colleagues in the same position at other similar museums in NYC make exactly twice my salary with the same or better benefits. No upward mobility. The museum does not promote staff. There is no room for growth and strong, talented staff are forced to leave at the first opening outside of the museum. The institution does not support its staff professionally. The museum is also highly understaffed for the amount of work and exhibition schedule that management plans. Although most of the staff is passionate, there are a handful of employees with full job security who do no work at all. Everyone else picks up the slack. The amazing collection at the museum is wildly undervalued. Few exhibitions draw from the permanent collection. The collection is loaned heavily because other institutions recognize its value, however, management is primarily focused on drawing outside exhibitions and collecting contemporary art, while neglecting research and care of the permanent collection. Complete lack of transparency from senior management.

It's a mess internally. Not enough proper planning. Even when planning is carried out, it usually gets thrown out the window and everything changes in a rush at the end. Management is desperate to make money, but all of their plans are unsustainable and not solving any long term issues. Most departments are hardworking but under appreciated. Moral is low and has been for years. Staff is not treated well by management or HR. Everyone is treated as replaceable. Generally all staff feel deeply undervalued and that no one in charge listens to internal concerns. Everyone is expected to just deal with it. Pay is WAY below industry standard. I'd say at least %25 lower than any comparable institution. I worked there for 8 years with one pay raise. Every year my supervisor said they wanted to give me a raise, but were unable to. Promotions are not available either despite good performance reviews. There is zero chance for advancement. This is why the staff is pursuing unionization.