The Brooklyn Academy of Music is reducing its programs for the upcoming season and is cutting 13% of its staff as it looks to bounce back from pandemic challenges, according to the New York Times.

The Fort Greene school staff is reportedly dealing with financial hardship that has caused it to cut programming and lay off employees.

According to the report, 26 positions were eliminated this month.

The school is also scaling down programming for its Next Wave festival to only feature seven programs, which is down from 13 the year before.

The report details a letter from the organization’s president, Gina Duncan, who says the changes were necessary to weather the downturn in giving for the charitable arts.

News 12 reached out to the union that represents 17 of the staff members who were laid off, Local 2110.

The union said it was about to begin negotiations with BAM on a new contract and that the timing of the layoffs set an unfortunate tone to further negotiations.

Some in the Fort Greene community said it is sad that the school had to make some cuts, while others said sometimes businesses have to do what they have to do.

News 12 also reached out to a representative for BAM for information about struggles it is facing and how it's hoping to get past this difficult time.

News 12 was told that there is no further information beyond what the New York Times reported.