This series spotlights arts organizations, collectives, and initiatives with good causes at their core. Keep up the good work.
Museums and other cultural institutions play an important role in society. Through their exhibitions and programs, the public engages with history, cultural relevance, and representation. These programs are believed to be well-researched and trustworthy facts and interpretations about art and history. But not all museums are living up to their ideals. The lack of diversity in cultural institutions is often discussed only in small, liberal circles and in museum staff meetings only when a new racially-motivated atrocity is committed.
One Instagram account is shining a light on the instances of race- and gender-based discrimination inside United States museums. In just under eight weeks, Change The Museum has amassed 29,500 followers. The account was founded in June by a museum employee in New York City who prefers to remain anonymous. According to their Instagram bio, Change The Museum is “Pressuring US museums to move beyond lip service proclamations by amplifying tales of uncheked racism.” Cultural workers submit testimonials via DM to @ChangeTheMuseum, which posts them anonymously. While the identities of the submissions are private, the museums are sometimes named and tagged.
The account is a safe platform for museum workers to share their first-hand experiences. The stories range from micro-aggressions to blatant discrimination and harassment. Submitters also recount instances where leadership and human resources demonstrate, at best, a lack of interest in improving workplace culture, and, at worst, actively stop the museum from taking steps towards diversity and inclusion.
Learn more about Change The Museum and the good work that they do.