MUSEUM STUDIES
DRIVING QUESTIONS
WHO are its staff?
WHAT are its collections?
WHO are its visitors?
HOW do they communicate and educate?
KEYWORDS TO CONSIDER
It's really important to understand the language used by museums and having working definitions for positions and practices within institutions.
CURATORS (+CURATORS AND DIVERSITY)
CURATORIAL STAFF (+ CURATORIAL STAFF AND DIVERSITY)
CUSTODIANSHIP
EXHIBITIONS/EXHIBITS
REPATRIATION
HERITAGE
AUTHENTICITY OR AUTHORITY (CURATORIAL AUTHORITY)
Things to search for:
the specific museum, trends nationally/regionally related to the museum and field of museum work, staffing, demographics and its relationship both to the museum in question and location (ex. demographics and museum staff and louve OR demographics and museum staff and Europe)
*don't forget: when searching off campus, you'll need to log in to the database with a username/password
Things to search for:
the specific museum, trends nationally/regionally related to the museum and field of museum work, staffing, demographics. look for reports, case studies, criticisms beyond the museum's own communication arm (their website). find reputable sources within the art world to explore.
OTHER AVENUES OF EXPLORATION
LOOK TO STATED MISSION
Does the museum have a mission? What does it say?
A diversity statement? What does it say?
Does it publish data on its staff, holdings, etc?
Who are the museum's stakeholders?
LOOK TO HOLDINGS
Does it have temporary exhibitions featuring BIPOC artists or topics?
Are there any exhibits with permanency? Which ones? Why those ones?
What language does it use when describing and introducing works by BIPOC artists?
LOOK TO COMMUNICATION
Define the education role of the museum. Educating who? On what? Is the teaching a dialogue? Or a presentation? Are there cross connections with schools? Other organizations?
What are the economics of admission? Are the demographics of membership changing?
DATA, DATA, DATA MATTERS
Reports and demographic studies are beginning to be readily available around museums and museum staff. Use them. They can be tricky to uncover, in some cases, so below are some reputable ones to dive into.
UNITED STATES STATISTICS + CASE STUDIES
US DATA: ARCHIVISTS, CURATORS, AND MUSEUM TECHNICIANS
Note: Explore the Diversity Tab, which will provide information on staff relating to gender and race, for example. Glean even more information through education and wages.
US DEMOGRAPHICS SURVEY: ANDREW W. MELLON, AAMD, AAM COLLABORATION
The latest data available (2018 survey) was published in 2019. The second iteration of this survey was conducted from 2021-Feb 2022 and will be released in Summer 2022.
NOTE: The first demographics study was conducted in 2015. That's nearly 10 years ago. Compare its findings to the 2019 survey.
CASE STUDIES: MUSEUM RESEARCH FROM MELLON/AAMD/AAM SURVEY FINDINGS
Participation from 8 museums explores success with diversity, inclusion, and strategies to reduce structural barriers with respect to staffing, and equity more broadly.
Do you see the museum you are studying on this list? (Hint: Detroit Institute of Arts is there)
EUROPE / UK STATISTICS + REPORTS
EUROPEAN UNION: REPORT ON ROLE OF PUBLIC ARTS/CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Note: Section on Staffing could be helpful for those studying European museums.
EUROSTAT: Culture Statistics
Note: Look to key sections including museum visits, European museum statistics, and employment.
CHARACTER MATTERS REPORT (UK)
Completed in 2016. For those looking at museums in The UK. Also look at the 2018-2020: Character Matters Delivery Plan for benchmarks and action.
Note: Look at the section Workforce Today, which features online surveys. Also note the Appendices for data sets and interviews.
OTHER SOURCES TO GUIDE YOUR QUESTIONS
White Cubes: Do Exhibitions at U.S. Museums Reflect Calls for Diversity?
NOTE: Most improved for Baltimore Museum of Arts
Museums of Native culture wrestle with decolonizing
NOTE: Discussion of New England museums like Peabody Essex, Abbe Museum, for example.
