One of Australia's flagship art museums has been warned it will no longer be able to deliver world-class exhibitions, as staff protest a major funding cut.
Dozens of workers from the Art Gallery of NSW gathered outside state parliament on Tuesday, calling out the government over proposals to save $7.5 million by slashing 51 roles.
Since opening its new precinct three years ago, the gallery has become the 26th most visited museum in the world and welcomes millions through its doors each year.
But Public Service Association members have warned this could all come crashing down if the state government goes ahead with its cuts.
"The government is causing reputational damage to the gallery," association delegate Sharne Fielder told AAP.
"If they don't give us the staffing, then we can't actually produce those really amazing shows that people want to come and see.
"They've spent the money to build all these new buildings and they're not supplying the funding to actually run them."
Tuesday was the state Labor government's final day for consultation on a draft restructure of the gallery, a year after it underwent a previous restructure that slashed about 30 roles.
The state government in June also announced a plan to cut a quarter of staff from its arts funding agency Create NSW.
Opposition arts spokesman Kevin Anderson accused Labor of using a "razor gang" approach to arts funding.
"Without proper funding, the future of our most treasured cultural institutions remains sketchy," he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns was asked during Question Time on Tuesday whether he could guarantee the staff cuts would not impact the number and size of exhibitions. He said he could not and deferred to his arts minister.
Arts Minister John Graham said he expected changes as a result of recent meetings.
"The Art Gallery of NSW is consulting with staff and the Public Service Association around the best way to restructure the organisation to work within their $109.2 million budget," he told AAP.
"I met with the union last week to hear their perspective. My expectation is that the consultation process is thorough and genuine."
A gallery spokesperson told The Sydney Morning Herald all possibilities would be explored as the institution reviewed its revenue.
The Labor government has shown "encouraging" signs of being open to consultation, but Public Service Association delegate Nik Rieth said many gallery staff members remain disappointed.
He said while art institutions punch above their weight in terms of their economic benefit, their true value goes deeper.
"It's spiritual, it's about connecting with other people," he told AAP.
"To underestimate that and tamp it down and economise it as a sort of discretionary spending - that's really disappointing."
AAP has reached out to the Art Gallery of NSW for comment.
