“A July report from Mass Cultural Council predicted more than 17,000 nonprofit arts jobs would be affected by the pandemic,” writes Zoë Madonna in Thursday’s (10/8) Boston Globe. “The summer brought deep layoffs at … the Museum of Fine Arts, Peabody Essex Museum, and Boston Symphony Orchestra, with countless smaller organizations quietly dismissing or furloughing employees. Many of these now jobless professionals were responsible for the unglamorous behind-the-scenes labor that keeps the sector running…. Some laid off employees … have found temporary support through GoFundMe campaigns set up by former colleagues…. BSO musicians and administrators also donated thousands to a fund drive in support of the 50 full-time administrative workers who lost their jobs at the end of August…. Fund administrator Tammy Lynch … lost her job of six years in front-of-house management. The fund has been successful enough to disburse money to around 80 former BSO employees…. Lynch … said she would eagerly return to her old job if asked. ‘My time at the BSO has been one of the best experiences that I’ve had anywhere,’ she said…. She’s taking time to garden, cook, and volunteer with a Roslindale food bank while figuring it all out.”
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