Western Museums Association (WMA)’s Post

History

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 40,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution. There are four pillars upon which the NMAAHC stands: It provides an opportunity for those who are interested in African American culture to explore and revel in this history through interactive exhibitions It helps all Americans see how their stories, their histories, and their cultures are shaped and informed by global influences It explores what it means to be an American and share how American values like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality are reflected in African American history and culture It serves as a place of collaboration that reaches beyond Washington, D.C. to engage new audiences and to work with the myriad of museums and educational institutions that have explored and preserved this important history well before this museum was created. The NMAAHC is a public institution open to all, where anyone is welcome to participate, collaborate, and learn more about African American history and culture. In the words of Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the Museum, “there are few things as powerful and as important as a people, as a nation that is steeped in its history.” This Museum will tell the American story through the lens of African American history and culture. This is America’s Story and this museum is for all Americans. #HappyBlackHistoryMonth #blackHistoryFacts #CelebratingHistory #Educate #UnapologeticallyBlack #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory #BlackHistoryIsOurHistory #CreateAwareness DAY 7 OF 29

Here's a resource that is much needed in our field! A book on Evaluating Accessibility in Museums. Speaking of which - if you are interested in accessibility in exhibit design, you should also check out OMSI's new Design Challenge Resource collection which includes a chapter on accessibility: https://lnkd.in/gM9Piw3c

As we celebrate Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month, I'm reminded of the power of diversity in driving innovation and growth in our industry. As a white ally, I recognize my privilege and the responsibility it carries. It's not enough to simply acknowledge it – we must actively use our platforms to amplify Hispanic and Latino voices. I want to start by sharing one of my favorite places to experience and enjoy Chicano art and culture. https://lnkd.in/gccR6pcf Did you know? • Hispanic and Latino professionals make up nearly 19% of the U.S. population • Yet, they're significantly underrepresented in marketing leadership roles • Their perspectives are crucial for creating truly inclusive and effective marketing strategies My commitment as a marketing professional and mental health advocate: Listen more, speak less Advocate for diverse hiring and promotion in our industry Challenge stereotypes in marketing campaigns Continuously educate myself on Hispanic and Latino cultures and experiences To my Hispanic and Latino colleagues: Your voices, stories, and insights are invaluable to our industry. Your perspectives drive innovation and authenticity in marketing. To my fellow white marketers: It's time to step up. Let's use our platforms to elevate diverse voices, not just this month, but always. True innovation comes from a diversity of perspectives. What steps are you taking to amplify Hispanic and Latino voices in your work? Share your insights and let's learn from each other. #DiversityInMarketing #InclusiveLeadership

I enjoyed writing this article, exploring and interconnecting the importance of the arts and policy. "The arts contribute more to communities than public displays for residents to admire. Art and policy intertwine past the artistic realm and can be an investment into a community’s economic, social and educational vitality. The arts can take many forms and depict many themes, voices and faces, as well as bring awareness to issues." https://lnkd.in/e7GAwMTG

Interesting findings from this Department for Culture, Media and Sport report released this week for engagement in Arts, Heritage and Culture England & Wales. If you have not got time time to read the full report here are some key stats I found interesting 🤔 🎭📚🏰🖼 🏛 ; - 91% of adults engaged with the arts at least once in the last 12 months 🎭 - The most popular way to engage with the arts physically was reading books or magazines (64%). This was followed by cinema screening of a film or movie (55%) and a theatrical performance (39%) 📚 - Respondents who did not engage with the arts were asked why they did not. The most common reasons given were: For physical engagement, ‘No reason in particular’’ (28%) and ‘I’m not interested in cultural or arts activities’ (24%). 🤷♀️ - 69% of adults reported having engaged with the heritage sector in the last 12 months. 🏰 - 46% engaged with museums and galleries in the last 12 months, a 10 percentage point increase from 2022/23 (36%) 🏛

We have so much global conflict today under crushing debt & few economic resources to meet present needs. Senseless crimes are escalating and traditional values have no place in our homes today. Resolution comes with a massive dose of truth. We need to release primary sources to verify and confirm our true black history. American red Indians came from Mongolia 🇲🇳 in the 1800s and were never indigenous to America. The real American Indians were black when a black Columbus showed up from black Europe in 1492. Blacks lived in America over 2,000 years. Equally, blacks lived in Europe for over 2,000 years. The Black Hebrews occupied Europe and Scotland. Ben Franklin's Essay of 1751 on the increase of mankind par.24 is the clearest statement on race with an extremely small white population tied to the Caucasus but housed in England mid 1700s when the global population was 600 million. Today of 8.2 billion souls UN /CIA report 5 % is considered pure white. How can history be accurate? In North Africa this summer I was called a Berber blue man but quite content with the genetically proven black bin Yahya Hebrew / Al Ali label. Blacks managed the planet as leaders for 5,800 years going back to a black Adam in BCE 4000. Today blacks are assigned to Africa which appears much smaller on a real map of the world, and is the only continent owned & controlled by other nations. In the Western hemisphere there are no known communities speaking an African language or dialect yet we are called African. There are many European languages spoken to this day in the West by black islanders. Why? Their black ancestors came from Europe. So sad we are living in an extremist and white supremacist world influenced by twisted theories penned by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach b. 1752 and Georges Louis Leclerc b. 1707. But after closer inspection I find it extremely hard to accept these two whitewashed Euromoors had anything to do with racist ideologies conceived in the mid to late 19th century which influenced Darwin, and gave birth to Eugenics and Zionism. The DNA, i.e. fraudulent Haplogroups R, J and I assignment to Europe and MENA, and primary sources like the Anglo Saxon Chronicles based on copies of unknown and unverified material need to be tossed out the window to make way for the real story of black mankind and humankind (not the same thing and read the writings of EG White along a timeline of circa 6,000 years). Our black leaders and black academics have failed 95 percent or 7.79 billion melenated souls on our planet. They are either too lazy to read / think for themselves OR lack the courage to speak out ! As to primary sources I have over 5m records, 30k DNA matches, over 90 kits managed on both sides of the family. Incredible insights from my wife's Polish family with Haplos R, J, I, and H with strong matches among modern Jews & modern Western Europeans. Always remember black history is inextricably linked to Biblical Hebrew history. Shalom.

Echoing Lord Ed Vaizey's excellent speech this week One would expect the words 'Arts' and 'Culture' to be at the very heart of policy in the National Planning Policy Framework This is after all the essential text which governs spatial planning in England Yet in over 28,000 words the words 'arts' and 'culture' both appear only once Are we relegated to nipping out the back of the pub, for a sneaky cultural experience? The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities seems to think so As Arts and Culture linger shamefully in their lonely single mention, behind 'factory outlet centres' and 'indoor bowling centres and bingo halls' in a snappy section on 'town centres' in the Glossary. Lucy Frazer QC is this REALLY the best we can do as a Cultural and Arts powerhouse? Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a strong voice for our creative economy, but sometimes one has to wonder if anyone listens to anyone else in Whitehall Our culture and arts are part of the DNA our of national experience and an important way we need to think about the future of our nation. This of course must includes spaces they are to occupy HM Treasury has occasionally spotted the sector as the Chancellor said last year "Our Creative Industry isn’t just about the glitz and glam of the red carpet in Leicester Square. It brings in £108 billion a year to help fund our public services, supports over 2 million jobs, and is world renowned" but sometimes it is difficult to understand that the creative economy is actually one of our 5 key sectors identified for growth. If policy insists in being oblivious to our cultural life, Shakespeare's observation from Richard II might well be prophetic about the future of our national cultural and arts landscape: "Against the envy of less happier lands, this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.... that was wont to conquer others, hath made a shameful conquest of itself" But then again - everyone is a critic. It takes real effort to actually achieve important things...

“Allegheny County arts and culture continues to punch above its weight when compared to peer regions" Learn more about our latest arts impact research report in this new story by WESA

#ListeningSession 6 - GCF’s President and CEO, Matthew Randazzo and Chief Impact Officer, Rasheda Malcolm-Cromwell hosted an open forum with organizations in the arts and culture sector that enrich our region through creative endeavors, employment and arts education. During the conversation, attendees expressed a clear need for more funding and support for staffing and operations. Additional takeaways include a desire for more artists to be at the decision-making table, better access to boardrooms and private sector spaces, and greater recognition of the positive effects the arts have on our regional economy. How do you think we can best serve our region’s artists and cultural institutions? What opportunities do the arts bring to the region and how can we ensure these opportunities persist?