The Evolving Mission: How Museums are Redefining Practices for Inclusivity

The American Museum of Natural History reopened its Central Park West entrance in 2023, featuring a recontextualized Theodore Roosevelt statue. Removed in 2022 after protests, the statue is now part of a display at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, set to open in 2026. This marks a shift in how museums engage with contested objects and their audiences.

Museums today grapple with representing histories that acknowledge power imbalances and ensure access across economic and physical barriers. The urgency to address these issues has intensified in recent years. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent protests against racial injustice led many museums to commit to equity and inclusion. Yet, critics highlight gaps between institutional promises and actions.

A notable example of change is the Baltimore Museum of Art’s (BMA) 2021 initiative to rename its contemporary galleries as the Nancy Dorman and Stanley Mazaroff Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs. This initiative coincided with a curatorial focus on underrepresented artists, especially women and artists of color. Jessica Bell Brown, curator at the BMA, stated the project was "about rethinking the structure of the narrative itself."

Diversity in representation connects directly to accessibility. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York expanded its space in 2019 to enhance public programming and community engagement. MoMA believes that art should be for everyone, a principle tested through partnerships with organizations like The Laundromat Project, which brings arts programming to local laundromats in underserved neighborhoods. However, ticket prices at major institutions often remain barriers; MoMA’s standard admission is $25, making it unaffordable for many.

Accessibility also extends to digital realms. Museums’ rapid shift to virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed them to reach broader audiences but exposed the digital divide. For rural or low-income populations with limited internet access, these offerings provided little relief. The Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico has partnered with local community centers since 2021 to stream its virtual programming in areas lacking digital infrastructure, a model for others to consider.

The debate over community involvement in curatorial decision-making has gained traction. The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) included input from local Indigenous groups in the 2022 exhibition Supernatural America: The Paranormal in American Art, contextualizing artifacts linked to Native spiritual practices. Kate Smith, a curator at Mia, described this process as "a necessary breaking of the institutional silos" that traditionally separate curators from community members. Such collaborations indicate a willingness to share authority in favor of collective authorship.

However, these advancements face resistance. Critics warn of "performative inclusivity," where museums make superficial changes without addressing systemic inequities. This critique targets institutions like the British Museum, which has not responded to calls for the return of looted artifacts despite adopting decolonization language. The museum’s Parthenon Marbles remain central to international debate, with Greece reiterating its repatriation request in March 2023.

As museums redefine their missions, the financial implications of these shifts are significant. Board composition, often dominated by wealthy patrons, influences resource allocation. When the Whitney Museum of American Art announced plans to expand its Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives in 2021, critics noted the lack of diversity on its trustee board, where 73% of members were white. Without structural changes at the governance level, experts argue, DEAI initiatives risk becoming mere symbolic gestures.

The stakes extend beyond individual institutions. Museums shape cultural memory and identity. Their ability to navigate contemporary challenges will determine their relevance in a fragmented society. “Museums must decide if they are willing to move beyond mere preservation and presentation toward meaningful participation in the communities they serve,” says Dr. Tonya Nelson, director of museums and cultural programs at Arts Council England.

The future of museum practices hinges on their willingness to embrace discomfort, reimagine traditions, and engage with audiences as collaborators rather than passive recipients. Whether this shift will lead to lasting transformation remains uncertain, but the momentum suggests that change, however uneven, is underway.