15 workers laid off at High Museum

By Howard Pousner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In a continuing effort to belt-tighten, the High Museum of Art this week laid off 15 full-time employees, 14 of them security workers hired to ramp up for the recently closed "First Emperor: China's Teracotta Army" hit exhibit.

The other position was eliminated as the High folded its visitors service department into its membership department. The new Member and Guest Relations Department "will be responsible for providing a positive and inspiring experience to all who visit the museum," a High statement said.

This week's departures and structure change follow layoffs of five full-time and three part-time employees by the High in late February. At the same time, staff pay cuts of 5 percent to 7 percent were announced. High director Michael Shapiro said then the moves were made to keep the museum from finishing its fiscal year with a deficit. Spokeswoman Cassandra Streich said this week that the High is still expected to finish 2008-09 in the black.