Diversifying Art Museum Leadership and Exhibition Schedules

        Museums in today’s world have been trying to continue the fight in continuing diversifying museum leadership and exhibition schedules.  Many museums all over the country have started doing this in many different ways.  Some cities such as Chicago, Orlando, and families like the Walton family for instance, have all started many movements and initiatives to try and help Diversify Art Museum leadership.  

When doing some research I found some information about the specifics when looking for how art museum leadership has started becoming more diversified in todays world.  When looking around, I came across an article about the Walton Family foundation and Ford foundation talking about the funds that went into an initiative to start diversifying the leadership.  In the article it reads, “Through the Diversifying Art Museum Leadership Initiative, the Walton Family Foundation and Ford Foundation will commit $6 million ($3 million each) over three years to support a limited number of U.S. art museums that are developing strategies and programs to diversify curatorial and management leadership. Single-year or multi-year grants will be offered. The grants must be matched 2:1 ($2 grant funds/$1 recipient match) by recipient art institutions in the first year, and 1:1 in any subsequent years.”  In the article it also talks about the main programs focus saying that they have sought out outcomes in four areas.  The first two are Increasing diversity and presence of under-represented groups among mid- and upper-level curatorial and management staff.  The third being Increase pipeline of diverse students and under-represented groups choosing career paths in art history, museum leadership, or other humanities-related fields.  With the fourth being Supplemental output to any of the above (not stand alone): Develop roadmaps to increased diversity, inclusion, and cultural sensitivity throughout the organization.  

The Orlando Sentinel published an article, written by Matthew J. Palm, and it talks about how Art museums are seeking a greater inclusivity as exhibits highlight justice and equality.  In the article it says that around Central Florida, many of the recent art exhibitions around the area have been able to give voices to black and latino artists while portraying issues of the importance to people of color such as justice, equality, protest and freedom.  Palm talks about how “Art always has reacted to and reflected the society around it, but around Central Florida, a common cry is being heard by those who make and present visual art: True inclusivity will require changes in offices and boardrooms as well as in museum galleries.”  

One person who advocates for change in this area and who also is a inspiring artist, Andy Warhol has started and joined the act with being apart of the Diversifying Art Museum Leadership Initiative that is supported by the Walton Family foundation, the Ford Foundation, and a Private donor.  At the Andy Warhol museum they create a supportive pathway for young people and emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds to explore and advance in careers in the museum field with hands-on training, mentoring, and ongoing professional development.  

Continuing to talk about Diversifying Art Museums, another institution that has joined the fight through the Initiative that was funded by the Walton Family, is the Art Institute of Chicago.  In the article it reads that, “This new initiative will create a more cohesive and equitable internship structure, increasing the number of Chicago students from underrepresented backgrounds who enter the art museum field and working with students to develop the skills, social and cultural capital, networks, and job awareness essential to careers as future curators and museum leaders.”  It also continues to talk about how paid internships will replace previously unpaid internships, and establishing a more robust mentor training program for staff and to change the culture of the museum to create a more inclusive and equitable work environment.