Meow Wolf job cuts deal blow to cultural economy | Arts news | Arts & Entertainment [Video]

Meow Wolf’s recent downsizing in Denver represents a major hit to one of the city’s greatest points of pride – the arts’ positive impact on the local economy. That starts with an estimated 13,550 jobs in the creative sector, according to the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts.  

But now about 50 Denver Meow Wolf workers have been eliminated as part of a larger effort, CEO Jose Tolosa said, “to cut expenses by 10% companywide … in order to right-size the business to ensure future success.” On Thursday,  Senior Public Relations Manager Erin Barnes told The DEnver Gazette that “lower visitation was definitely a key part of the decision.”

While the positions affected were across the board, including management, most of the lost jobs were performative in nature. Meow Wolf’s “Creative Operators” are “in-world,” costumed staff who engage with visitors and provide one-on-one experiences unique to each guest. (And tell them where the bathrooms are.)

It is hard to overstate how …