Diversifying Museum Leadership and Exhibition Schedules (Spencer Hawk)

 Diversifying Museum Leadership and Exhibition Schedules 

(Spencer Hawk)

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.