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Museums are places that hold collections and knowledge in trust for the public. When museums hesitate too much or flatly refuse to acknowledge the social realities that directly affect the work they do and the lives of their audiences, their part in perpetuating these realities both historically and presently, and their power to take action, they are breaking this trust.
A week into the protests, of people expressing rage and sadness, of people mobilizing and standing in solidarity against systems steeped in inequity, I decided to look through the public facing social media accounts of local New York City museums and see what they had to say. Only about half the museums I had looked at had used their voices to speak out, much of it self-serving, offering sympathy and understanding without action. Some places went a bit further, like MOFAD who linked to resources both related to their content area of food, but that also connected to the black community and struggle.
Now almost two weeks into the nationwide protests, some cultural institutions in Brooklyn and Queens are starting to offer up their physical spaces for protestors to use bathrooms, secure water and snacks, and charge phones, As spaces for the community, supported by the City, which means supported by tax dollars, I would argue offering up our lobbies is the least we can do. The commitment to DEAI (Diverse, Equity, Access, and Inclusion) that has become City-mandated for funding can not only happen when it is easy or convenient. I want to outline below definitive actions museums and cultural institutions should consider taking in the spirit of really activating the DEAI work I know so many of our institutions have begun to do internally. Much like our collections, if we are not sharing the DEAI work we do with our communities, we are breaking the social contract we have as public institutions.
Be honest about your museum's history. Don't try to cover up your mistakes. By explicitly owning up to them and making a commitment to acknowledge and improve, museums can model behavior we want to see in our society and be a catalyst for difficult but fruitful conversation and subsequent action.
Vocally support and use online platforms to bolster the work of other nonprofits, especially local ones with specialized experience in social justice work and community organizing.
Share the trainings and resources used for internal DEAI development. Create a culture of sharing and foster dialogue through more open-ended online resources and structured public programs.
Offer up our physical spaces, our lobbies in particular, for protestors to use at times beyond curfew. There have been too many accounts of people finding themselves stranded or trapped after curfew, and we can use our spaces as safe safes for people even after the sun goes down. Logistics considering security need to be considered, but if something is made a priority it is possible. This action, on top of providing pragmatic assistance to protestors, also sends a message to the city that our institutions do not support this infringement on human rights. Partnerships with organizers and medics are an important part of this action as well.
Consider the institution's mission. Many museums have moved beyond prioritizing collecting, not to say they don't still collect, and have a focus on how we can impact and support the public, it is an ethical imperative to speak up and support the varied voices within our communities as they in turn support us by attending shows and programs. Additionally, it is important to have a Board that fully supports the espoused mission, vision, and values of an institution. Leaders of cultural institutions need to consider the harmony between those in charge and those it serves, and whether the board and staff reflect those communities.
Terminate any contracts with law enforcement. This will put monetary pressure on these agencies to demilitarize and reform. It also shows that violent bodies have no place in institutions of learning. Furthermore, a united stand among institutions in this way could influence state and city divestment of funds from police and reinvestment in education, arts, culture, and health.
Don't expect Black people to do all the hard work for you, but likewise center Black voices and commit to having a diverse and well-rounded staff. A large part of this has to do with pay. For a long time nonprofit work was considered an extracurricular job taken up by white women whose husbands could support them. While this is clearly no longer the case, chronically low salaries still perpetuate this idea and put BIPOC at a disadvantage to even enter the field.
While this is a difficult time as it is for cultural institutions in the face of the pandemic, we can not turn our backs now on those we serve. Not all institutions are in equal positions to do some or all of the things suggested above, but at the very least we can start by cultivating cultures of transparency, collaboration, and active effort not just in times when it is popular to do so, but all the time.