Art institution UCCA Centre for Contemporary Art reportedly withheld salaries for a period of six months due to financial struggles.
UCCA Centre for Contemporary Art Faces Financial Challenges Amidst Widespread Crisis in China's Private Art Museum Sector
The UCCA Centre for Contemporary Art, one of the oldest non-profit contemporary art centres in Mainland China, is currently grappling with financial difficulties. This situation is part of a broader crisis in China's private art museum sector, where tightened corporate budgets, reduced consumer discretionary spending, and rising operational costs are causing concern[1].
The UCCA, founded by the late Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens in 2007, has expanded to three more branches in Beidaihe, Shanghai, and Yixing. However, this aggressive expansion has intensified financial strain[1]. The Centre's Shanghai branch has not had any activity since the June closing of an exhibition, and the future plans for this branch remain unclear.
The wage dispute at UCCA is particularly noteworthy. Employee wages were withheld from January to June 2025 due to financial difficulties[1]. Reports by the South China Morning Post suggest that the Ennova Art Museum in Langfang has been dormant for months, and museums such as the Jupiter Museum of Art in Shenzhen and Qingdao's TAG Art Museum have closed.
Red Brick Art Museum curator Wang Wenyu reported a significant drop in visitors during the winter, resulting in difficulties for paying salaries at the beginning of this year. The UCCA is not alone in facing these challenges. Several other private art museums in China have experienced closures and cutbacks, causing concerns about the sustainability and outlook for the region's art market[1].
The explosion of private museums in China during the 2010s was due to two main factors: incentives for developers and a growing number of wealthy art collectors. Between 2016 and 2020, an average of a new museum opened every two days in China, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism[1].
As a long-term solution, the sector, including UCCA, may need to reassess its funding models, seek more sustainable financial backers, and adjust expansion plans[1]. However, no publicly detailed long-term resolution plan has been officially announced by UCCA as of July 2025.
In summary, the wage dispute at UCCA highlights serious financial instability brought on by external economic pressures. Long-term solutions likely involve strategic financial restructuring and caution in further expansion to ensure sustainability, but concrete measures have yet to be publicly outlined[1]. This crisis in China's private contemporary art sector underscores the need for a re-evaluation of funding models and a focus on sustainability to ensure the continued growth and success of these institutions.
[1] South China Morning Post, July 2025.
- The financial difficulties faced by the UCCA Centre for Contemporary Art, a leading non-profit contemporary art center in China, are part of a broader crisis in the country's private art museum sector, as reported by the South China Morning Post in July 2025.
- The expansions of UCCA to multiple branches, including Beidaihe, Shanghai, and Yixing, have intensified its financial strain, potentially due to increased operational costs associated with these expansions.
- The art market and business community are closely watching the UCCA's financial challenges, given its role as one of the oldest and largest non-profit contemporary art centers in Mainland China, and the wider implications for the sustainability of the country's private art museum sector.
- The ongoing financial struggles of the UCCA, and other private art museums in China, may prompt a re-evaluation of their funding models to seek more sustainable financial backers, adjust expansion plans, and ensure the longevity and success of these institutions in the contemporary art market.
