Bushnell furloughs employees
About 350 workers have lost jobs since pandemic began
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford furloughed three more employees last week, bringing to 350 the total number of people whohave lost their jobs at the cultural landmark due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bushnell spokeswoman Stephanie Fried said in an email Wednesday that since the pandemic began, 350 people – stagehands, front of house staff, administrative staff and others, some full-time, some part-time – have been furloughed or laid off by The Bushnell.
The most recent are three last week, one in marketing and two in the box office, she said.
In a “From the Wings” broadcast on the Bushnell’s Facebook page, CEOand President David Fay outlined the impact of the pandemic on his staff.
“Before the shutdown, we had over 400 people employed, who either most or all of their employment in a year came from the Bushnell. We are down now to about 30 to 32 people. All the work being done, including this broadcast, to be in communication and to let our public know what’s going on, to pay the bills, and it’s still an expensive facility even when it’s closed, to continue to raise the funds ... that still takes a good handful of people.”
Fried said Fay’s citing of 400 workers include staff that work in the building but are employed by service providers.
“Without The Bushnell’s being open, they too have, in many cases, been furloughed or laid off by their associated companies,” Fried wrote.
There is slight overlap in employees between the Bushnell and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, which this week furloughed nearly 90 employees, including its musicians.
“Our FOH staff and stagehands work when there are HSO performances in house. So, in that respect, yes there is crossover/overlap. Otherwise, no there was no overlap,” she wrote.