About Museum Workers Speak

We are a collective of activist museum workers interrogating the relationship between museums’ stated commitments to social value and their internal labor practices.

Born out of a "rogue session" about labor issues at the American Alliance of Museums 2015 meeting, Museum Workers Speak grew into a collective of museum activists pushing for social change at the intersection of labor, access, and inclusion. Since 2015, we have continued to advocate and organize from outside the walls of museums to build solidarity and exert pressure on museum leadership to protect workers.

In contrast to the dominance of museum leaders’ voices in the discourse of social justice in museums, Museum Workers Speak is facilitated by a diverse team of emerging professionals, graduate students, and museum staff members. We are personally aware of the challenges presented by working in this field, particularly barriers to entry and advancement rooted in race and class.

Many museums have a stated commitment to acting as agents of social change but do not necessarily apply that mission to their internal labor practices. Only when museums recognize and resolve their internal inequalities can they truly begin to act as agents of social change. We aim to facilitate a conversation that leads to action.