Meow Wolf Layoffs Cuts 8 Percent of Total Workforce, Six Denver Jobs

Meow Wolf is laying off 20 percent of its central workforce; it cut 75 roles, which amounts to 8 percent of positions across the entire company. Six of the impacted workers were at Meow Wolf Denver.

According to the Meow Wolf Workers Collective (MWWC), the company held a meeting on December 2 inviting employees to voluntarily leave the company before the December 12 layoffs. And this isn't the first time there have been layoffs.

The immersive-art conglomerate conducted 165 layoffs (fifty in Denver) and cut expenses back in April, and also halted plans for opening a corporate office in Los Angeles while closing its office in New York.

Meow Wolf, which opened Convergence Station in Denver in September 2021, is known for its cavernous immersive installations. The enterprise got its start with a Santa Fe-based collective that caught the attention of George RR Martin, who financially supported the artists' efforts in creating House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe in 2016. Since then, the collective has morphed into a corporation that has expanded exponentially, with Omega Mart opening in Las Vegas in February 2021 and The Real Unreal in Grapevine, Texas, last year. Its fifth permanent installation, Radio Tave, opened in Houston this October, and a sixth spot is planned for Los Angeles.
In response to the news of the coming layoffs, MWWC released a statement asking the company to "hold leadership accountable for the decisions made that got the company here." MWWC asked that Meow Wolf "honor all aspects of all union contracts" as well, and "move away from the contractor-focused model that we currently rely on and prioritize the needs of full time employees."

MWWC also suggested that Meow Wolf "prioritize guest safety in our exhibitions by increasing the number of staff on the floor," noting that "several guests have been forced to call emergency services to get medical aid because, following a round of layoffs earlier this year, our exhibitions are now chronically understaffed, leaving our spaces unsafe and poorly maintained."

"The workers at the bottom should not be the tool to 'fix' decisions at the top," MWWC states. "It is especially despicable at this time of year."

Meow Wolf's vice president of public relations and communications, Kati Murphy, responded to questions about the layoffs with a statement.

The past year has been transformative for Meow Wolf as we, like many in the creative economy, navigate shifting financial realities and evolving priorities. These challenges have required us to reassess our business needs and ensure our ability to deliver exceptional creative experiences.
As part of this process, Meow Wolf has undertaken a strategic restructuring, resulting in a reduction of approximately 75 roles, representing 20% of our central workforce (non-exhibition operations). This includes all levels of the organization, including senior leadership roles. These changes were made with great care and we are mindful of their impact on our team and broader community.

This moment represents both a difficult transition and an opportunity to refocus Meow Wolf’s future strategy. We are deeply grateful to all the individuals who are departing for their contributions to Meow Wolf. Their passion, creativity, and dedication have shaped the company’s growth and its standing as a leader in the immersive arts.

We remain committed to delivering groundbreaking experiences that inspire and connect people around the world.

On December 12, MWWC released another statement:

This is a sad day for Meow Wolf workers and fans. We need to break this cycle. It’s time for company-wide change that focuses on the people who make Meow Wolf what it is.

We must return to our creative roots and focus on the people who make Meow Wolf what it is. We must remember that WE build worlds together. Meow Wolf is more than IP. It is the people who make these things. And it is the people who enjoy them.

We would like to acknowledge the executives who have been willing to work with the union to lower the number of unionized workers who were laid off. They see that Meow Wolf is its people as well as its products, and that the creative force of Meow Wolf does not reside in executives or one single individual’s supposed “vision.” We look forward to continuing to work together moving forward.

The legacy of Meow Wolf and its fans deserve better. This is a shout in the storm of unrestrained capitalist nonsense. We can do this a different way.

According to a follow-up statement from Meow Wolf, the percentage of total employees impacted is 8 percent — about 75 jobs — and the company emphasizes that the "20 percent" in the initial statement refers to employees in the "central organization, including Project Development and General & Administrative Support."

That "central organization" is separate from exhibition operations at Convergence Station, according to Meow Wolf, noting that "fewer than 10 percent of the impacted employees were based in Denver."

This story has been updated to include Meow Wolf's clarifying statement.