Struggling LA MOCA Lays Off Its Curator of Architecture and Design

"As part of a restructuring “needed to create a sustainable operation,” the museum has reduced its staff size by 17 positions, including 12 full time and two part time jobs. Along with a round of layoffs earlier in the year, MOCA has now let go of 40 staff members in 2009.

Hodge has been with the museum for over eight years and curated several major exhibitions. These included What’s Shakin’ (2001), a show about new architectural talent in LA; Frank O. Gehry: Work in Progress (2004), documenting the architect’s creative process and his work; and Skin and Bones (2006), exploring the intersection between fashion and architecture.

Other cost-cutting measures at MOCA include across the board cuts in salary, hours, and benefits, and the canceling of at least five exhibitions, which will largely be replaced by exhibitions featuring MOCA’s permanent collection."