From Small Wins to Sweeping Change: Working Together to Foster Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism in Museums

Museums, with their colonial histories and reliance on wealthy donors, face challenges in creating inclusive spaces. However, many museum practitioners are actively working towards equity and inclusion. This book from the American Alliance of Museums provides tools, solutions, and models for fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment, with 60% BIPOC authorship. It showcases case studies of successful collaborative and inclusive practices in various museum types, emphasizing the importance of relationship building, authentic connections, and developing foundations together.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 26 June 2022
Publisher: American Association of Museums

Museums, with their colonial histories and reliance on wealthy donors, have historically been exclusionary spaces. However, many museums have recognized the need to become more inclusive and have taken steps to address their past practices. This book from the American Alliance of Museums brings together tools, solutions, and models from DEAI practitioners who have worked towards institutional change. With 60% BIPOC authorship, the book provides hope and inspiration for museum workers across the country who are achieving small wins and fostering sweeping change in the predominantly white cultural sector through innovation, collaboration, and courage.

One of the key challenges facing museums is building support among all stakeholders and successfully advocating for new positions, programs, and cross-departmental working groups. This book offers practical strategies for achieving this, including creating cross-departmental teams to critique internal practices, reviewing hiring processes, and fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment.

Museums of all types have formed cross-departmental teams to critique their internal practices, review hiring processes, and ultimately foster a more diverse and inclusive environment for both visitors and staff alike. But how do such initiatives get off the ground? How do individuals build support among all stakeholders and successfully advocate for new positions, programs, and cross-departmental working groups? How can colleagues work together across departments to foster more inclusive museum practices?

This book from the American Alliance of Museums brings together a collection of tools, solutions, and models from DEAI practitioners who have actively worked together towards institutional change. With 60% BIPOC authorship, this book will provide hope and inspiration, as well as concrete strategies for museum workers all over the country who are achieving small wins and fostering sweeping change in the predominantly white cultural sector through innovation, collaboration, and courage.

This is the first book to focus specifically on collaborative and inclusive practices in equity and anti-racism work in different types of museums. Its case studies demonstrate the importance of relationship building, authentic connections, and developing foundational knowledge and skills.

In conclusion, museums have a long way to go in becoming more inclusive and equitable spaces. However, by working together and implementing the strategies outlined in this book, we can create a more diverse and inclusive cultural sector that reflects the diversity of our communities.

Weight: 399g
Dimension: 229 x 156 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538163597