The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square in Melbourne will cut the equivalent of 20% of its 107 full-time staff and reduce education and outreach programs in a move to balance its books as reduced visitor spending and a protracted freeze on government operating grants put pressure on the bottom line.
In a letter to staff, ACMI director and chief executive Tony Sweeney wrote that ‘we need to make changes in response to ensure our continued success and ongoing sustainability.’ Shedding staff will mean reducing the services the centre can provide, starting with the free school holiday programs and reductions to the education and outreach programs. Other measures will be to hold just two exhibitions a year in each of the galleries but keep them going longer and freeze memberships to its lending services. From March, ACMI will close at 5.00pm instead of 6.00pm and cinema session times will be reviewed for efficiencies.
