DEMANDS

We are taking a stand and demanding that NOMA make the changes outlined below (we are inspired by our comrades at For the Culture 2020):

1. We demand NOMA stop all forms of performative allyship, Black tokenism, and virtue signaling immediately.
   

2. We demand a public apology from NOMA on noma.org and all social media avenues to all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) & LGBTQ former and current employees who have experienced discrimination and aggression at the institution, as well as an apology to the New Orleans community for failing to provide a safe space for visitors.
   

3. We demand the immediate removal of the following NOMA administrators who have facilitated this toxic culture: Director Susan Taylor, Deputy Director Anne Banos, Facility Manager Steve Lewis, and Human Resources Manager Donna Dunn (and replace HR with at least two qualified individuals).
   

4. We demand the hiring of more Black curators! Hire and retain a cohort of Black and People of Color on the board of trustees and in leadership positions in the staff.
   

5. We demand a complete and independent investigation of the origins and history of ownership of all African and Indigenous objects in the museum. This investigation must take place in collaboration with DismantleNOMA representatives, independent BIPOC curators and representatives from the respective countries for the expressed purpose of returning all sacred and religious objects to their country/people of origin.
   

6. We demand that NOMA actively support locally-based BIPOC artists and creators by acquiring and exhibiting their work.
   

7. We demand that NOMA actively support locally-based BIPOC arts and cultural institutions by forming meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships and sharing resources and platforms.
   

8. We demand an equitable redistribution of departmental budgets and staff wages that includes a permanent policy that all employees and contract workers make a living wage.
   

9. We demand a mandatory formal, independent investigation into all complaints made to HR and museum leadership regarding BIPOC bias, LGBTQ bias, gender bias, and sexual harassment during current director Susan Taylor’s 10-year tenure. NOMA must immediately dissolve all NDA’s for current and former employees so that the findings of this investigation can be released publicly no later than 12/31/2020.
   

10. We demand that NOMA will implement a safe and unbiased system for reporting workplace discrimination and racial bias to be evaluated externally by a council composed of independent BIPOC and LGBTQ stakeholders, including representatives from DismantleNOMA. NOMA must standardize anti-racist training for all current and future NOMA staff.
    

11. We demand that NOMA announce and implement anti-racism as an explicit part of their mission; structural changes that come out of this new mission are to be supported by policies, procedures, and budgets that are aligned with clearly articulated equity outcomes.
    

12. We demand that NOMA create and equitably fund a permanent Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion department with at least two full-time staff.
    

13. We demand transparency in institutional operations, internal communications, acquisitions, and collections.