A Quick Overview.
Define museum…
The main purpose of a museum is to exhibit “the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment” (International Council of Museums)
With great power, comes great responsibility.
U.S. museums receive around 850 million visits each year, which is more visits than “all major league sporting events and theme parks combined (483 million in 2011).” (Institute of Museums and Library Services study) This increases their responsibility to accurately connect audiences with the culture of the community through exhibits, staff, and accessibility. However, museums have avoided this responsibility since they were created, and because of this, have been criticized for not acknowledging institutionalized racism and colonialism within museums for decades.
A special kind of museum:
Art Museums
Art museums consistently connect both historical and present-day learnings throughout their work, while also visually showing and questioning cultural and social aspects of society. Therefore, their responsibility to accurately connect the audience with the culture of the community through artwork, staff, and accessibility. However, art museums have avoided this responsibility and because of this, have been criticized for not acknowledging institutionalized racism and colonialism within museums for decades. Although art museums are being highlighted, institutionalized racism and colonialism is an issue in all types of museums.
Did you know that museums in the United States directly generated 15.9 billion dollars? Learn more facts on museums here.
Change now.
The four main steps to help start change in the museum field are…
Create attainable plans highlighting how to become more diverse and inclusive
Make space for people of color and minority groups in leadership roles
Display art pieces and exhibits focusing on more people of color and minority groups
Reach out to the community for feedback and a more diverse audience!
Want to know how YOU can help? Click here to find out more.
Dig Deeper
Want to learn more? Click to the right to read more in depth with my 15 page paper on ‘Why Museums Need to Change, Fast.’