After eight years as the Director and Chief Executive of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas P. Campbell, 54, resigned on Tuesday, February 28. Largely due to the poor financial state of the museum and complaints from fellow staff regarding Campbell’s costly expansion plans, he plans on leaving this June.

Although the Met still remains the largest art museum in the country, in the past few years the museum has experienced some financial difficulties. Its debt recently reached $40 million, and ninety of its employees have lost their jobs. Many blame the steady decline on Campbell, who had introduced a now postponed $600 million plan for a new modern art wing.

In the beginning of 2016, Campbell also secured the Old Whitney Museum, now known as the Met Breuer: a project that cost $15 million to refurbish and approximately $17 million each year to run. Many board members supported this decision as well as the choice to increase the digital staff for the museum, though, leading others to doubt not only Campbell but also the museum board.

Andrea Lan ‘18 states, “It’s really a shame this is happening. The Metropolitan Museum is a place anyone can enjoy and relish in amazing artwork. It is appreciated by everyone. I hope the interim director and any future ones can bring the Met out of debt because it would be devastating to the entire world to see it go.” Undoubtedly, the Metropolitan Museum holds a salient place throughout the country and even the world.

Despite the losses he generated, Campbell has also brought great success to the Museum. Under Campbell, the Metropolitan acquired a gift of Cuban artwork worth $1 billion from Leonard A. Lauder, the innovative Kerry James Marshall survey at the Breuer, and numerous new exhibits such as “Pergamon and Hellenistic Kingdoms of the Ancient World.” Additionally, under Campbell, attendance to all Metropolitan museum has reached groundbreaking numbers. At the Metropolitan Museum and the Cloisters, approximately 7 million people visit every year; since the opening of the Breur last year, almost 600,000 people have visited.

Some are skeptical as to what the future for the Metropolitan Museums has in store. Jerry Yang ‘19 offers his opinion on the resignation: “I don’t know all the details regarding Campbell’s criticism, but I am a little unsure as to how the future financial conditions of the Met will remain. Is their debt going to increase more? I don’t think all these issues should be blamed on Campbell. Being the head director is definitely too much pressure for one man.”

Museum Chairman Daniel Brodsky states that, as of now, there is no replacement for Campbell. Daniel Weiss, the Museum President, is acting as interim director. Many speculate that Weiss will prove a better executive based on his past success as a financial steward and PhD in Western and Byzantine art, but it is still unclear as to whether or not Weiss plans on permanently maintaining the Director position. In the meantime, you can support the three current Metropolitan museums by donating the next time you are in New York City.