Describe the equity strategy that you plan to implement into your course. What is it? How is it intended to work?

I plan to employ a number of strategies to increase students’ sense of belonging in campus museum spaces. One of the ways we can do this is by intentionally collecting work by diverse contemporary artists, so that our collection and exhibitions are relevant to campus, but also by challenging the authoritative presentation style used in many museums. This can happen by planning programming that calls for active rather than passive viewing (including hands-on printmaking and curatorial opportunities for students), as well as programming that focuses on art and social justice – an important component of printmaking in particular, so that the gallery is not a place of static presentations. The Turner has often collaborated with classes to plan exhibitions (and give students the chance to curate and position work), but I plan to expand the types of classes we partner with to increase equity and encourage new perspectives on the collection. This semester I plan to approach several U-course instructors to see if this kind of collaboration is of interest, as well as other classes that capture a wide cross section of lower division students – ENGL 130 and PHIL 102, for example.

Museums also need to do a better job of acknowledging our history as elite spaces, and the many ways that museums have historically created inequities in collecting and programming strategies. This is a conversation that needs to happen nationally, and also on our campus. I plan to talk to GLAMR about hosting a panel discussion to acknowledge inequities in the museum field, and how our campus museums plan to make our spaces and collections equity-driven.

What is needed in terms of planning and resources?

For the class exhibition project the first step is to identify instructors that might be interested in pursuing the idea in spring 2022, for implementation in F22 or S23. For the active programming ideas – I will also seek partners on campus to increase the visibility and impact for students. I have just started working with the student printmaking club who is interested in leading a social justice screenprinting activity on campus in Spring 22, and will start reaching out to other groups who might be interested in partnering. The Turner is drafting a DEAI action plan, and I will work with GLAMR to also draft one for the group.

What is your rationale for choosing and implementing this strategy?

I think the most important thing is have open conversation about what we still need to do – and to create an action plan for how to make real changes. Museums such as the Turner need to not only show a dedication to collecting diverse work and hosting impactful exhibitions, but also to inviting new perspectives and creating active opportunities for people to engage.