International African American Museum in South Carolina to furlough all staff

The International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina, announced on Wednesday that beginning in July and lasting through December 31, all of its staff will be furloughed. The 20-day furlough will be staggered over the months and affect all levels of staff, including the museum’s leadership. Museum officials said the museum will remain fully operational.

The decision comes as the museum faces “financial pressure,” the IAAM said in a statement. “We are navigating a shift in the political and funding environment that has made financial operations uniquely more challenging for our institution. This action is being taken to reduce expenses and avoid layoffs while we refocus on sustainable revenue growth and fundraising efforts,” the statement reads.

“We know this affects our employees and their families in real ways. Keeping this team together and supporting them through difficult times is why we chose this path rather than deeper cuts.”

The IAAM opened on June 27, 2023, in Charleston after two decades of planning. The museum sits on Gadsden’s Wharf, along the Cooper River waterfront, where about 40% of Africans who were trafficked in the Middle Passage and enslaved in the United States first landed in the country. Earlier this year, the museum surpassed half a million visitors since its opening almost three years ago.