As part of the Sydney Modern Project, the art gallery undertook the largest art commissioning project in its history, featuring nine major site-specific works. More than 2 million people have visited the expanded campus since.

Despite the expansion, the first budget of the Minns government cut the gallery’s operations budget to $40 million from the previous year’s allocation of $43 million. An “efficiency dividend” of about $3 million has also been applied to the gallery as per previous years, representing an effective further cut to funding.

Under questioning from Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, department officials conceded the art gallery, Australian Museum and the Powerhouse Museum had been subject to a “double whammy” of savings targets in Labor’s first budget.

Department of Enterprise and Investment and Trade secretary Elizabeth Mildwater said the three organisations had been subject to efficiency dividends and so-called efficiency savings, the effect of which was to “reduce” these institutions’ “budget levels” over forward years.

The gallery has agreed to raise $40 million from its two gift shops, restaurants, private functions and box office to help its bottom line over the current financial year – at least double what it brought in the previous 12 months.

The art gallery has been consulting staff on its “realignment” which had been informed by an assessment of the operational needs of the new campus, its future programming plans and ongoing budget discussions.

Brand said it was his responsibility to ensure that the gallery delivered its programs and collection care could be balanced with the gallery’s human resources. The gallery remained committed to free general admission, he said.

A separate audit by federal and state governments is also under way of the Museum of Contemporary Art after that cultural institution disclosed it was reconsidering entry fees to address rising costs.

Last year, the PSA undertook an extensive survey among its art gallery staff members about workload, which it says is a major concern for many as the gallery cuts positions.

Loading

“While these cuts don’t have an immediate impact on any one person, they will need to be monitored as to the overall effect on workloads,” the PSA said in communications with its members. “For example, mention was made that for Projects, they should factor in additional staffing and not just push the work onto the existing staff.”

Across the Art Gallery of NSW 9.4 full-time equivalent filled roles across the organisation will be removed, with 10 affected staff members redeployed within the NSW public service.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.