NewsAppointments
After soul-searching, Guggenheim names a Black ‘culture and inclusion’ officer and a human resources chief
Appointments follow accusations of “systemic racism” in hiring and programming at the museum
AnalysisMuseums
Why are top jobs in Chinese museums going to white men?
Local professionals continue to be overlooked for highly paid leading roles
NewsAppointments
Saint Louis Art Museum appoints its first woman director
Min Jung Kim, who now leads the New Britain Museum of American Art, will succeed 22-year veteran Brent Benjamin
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Revising a mostly white ‘greatest hits’ narrative, Seattle Art Museum will overhaul its American art galleries
Museum invites three artists to serve as co-authors of collection displays and enlists 10 local experts to help generate inclusive stories
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Minneapolis Institute of Art announces over $19m in gifts, including funds for a diversity officer, Latin American curator and deputy director
Museum, under pressure to embrace equity while facing revenue losses, says the money will shore up its endowment and operating budget
Newsdiversity
Exclusive survey: what progress have US museums made on diversity, after a year of racial reckoning?
We asked art institutions around the country about their efforts to diversify their workforces, exhibition programmes, permanent collections and audiences
NewsAppointments
National Gallery of Art recruits the first woman and person of colour to serve as its chief curator
As the museum commits itself to diversity, E. Carmen Ramos, a curator of Latino art, will be “the principal architect of the visitor experience”
NewsDetroit Institute of Arts
‘Each employee is very important’: Embattled director of Detroit Institute of Arts responds to findings about management missteps
Salvador Salort-Pons says he has been working with a leadership coach to address complaints about staff members feeling undervalued
Newsracism
In diversity and equity campaign, Walters Art Museum recognises the tarnished history of its founders
Institution issues newly written history that discloses its founders’ pro-Confederacy stance and business ties to racist labour practices in the South
NewsFundraising
After thwarted art sales, Baltimore Museum of Art marshalls funding to promote diversity and equity
Institution announces $1.46m in gifts to finance goals such as pay increases for hourly workers and extended visiting hours
NewsAppointments & departures
Charles Venable, president of Indianapolis museum, resigns after controversial job post
The board has issued an apology and pledged to improve its representation of the local community
Newsdiversity
Indianapolis museum apologises for posted job description describing a ‘core, white art audience’
Institution edits wording of director’s job opening to eliminate “white” after an outcry
NewsMonuments
Actor Riz Ahmed and Chisenhale director Zoé Whitley selected for new commission to diversify London's public monuments
New 15-member body will focus on the capital’s statues, street names and memorials
NewsAppointments
Guggenheim appoints Naomi Beckwith as deputy director and senior curator
Appointment of MCA, Chicago curator is seen as a step toward more inclusiveness after accusations of institutional racism
NewsAppointments & departures
'We are not a suburb of Paris': incoming director of Montreal Museum of Fine Arts champions a North American identity
Stéphane Aquin is taking over after Nathalie Bondil’s controversial dismissal
NewsDeaccessioning
To mirror, and support, community: Everson Museum board chair defends deaccessioning of a Pollock
Auction proceeds will go towards diversifying the collection at the Syracuse institution with “inspirational” art
NewsDeaccessioning
Baltimore Museum of Art will sell important paintings by Warhol, Still and Marden
Acting on relaxed rules, it will use the funds for collection care and salary increases as well as diverse acquisitions
NewsArt market
A new online auction house wants to reduce speculation on emerging artists' markets
Founded by former Christie's vice president Shlomi Rabi, Greenhouse will also donate 5% from every sale to a scholarship fund for Black students studying art history
Newsdiversity
Rockefeller Brothers Fund plans $1.5m in grants to help New York museums promote diverse artists
Financial aid will help eight institutions “disrupt dominant narratives” and “build back a more equitable culture” after Covid lockdown
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Activist employee group demands resignations of three Guggenheim leaders
But support for the statement, alleging “oppressive behaviours” by director, chief operating officer and chief curator, is unclear
Newsdiversity
After 2019 racial incident, MFA Boston hires a senior director of belonging and inclusion
Appointment follows an agreement with the Massachusetts attorney general to embrace diversity and adopt an anti-harassment policy
Newsdiversity
Getty announces internship programme to counter lack of diversity among art conservators
Noting barriers to students of colour, it establishes yearlong training stints with $30,000 grants
NewsMurals
Depression-era murals in a Minnesota city hall covered over with new works reflecting a more diverse community
The works foreground the contributions of immigrant and Indigenous communities, but members of the Dakota tribe claim the contributions are a "Band-Aid"
Newsdiversity
Guggenheim adopts a plan to become more inclusive and racially diverse
Initiative follows accusations by employees of entrenched racism at the New York museum
NewsDirectors
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit director dismissed amid accusations of a toxic work atmosphere
Museum says inquiry showed that Elysia Borowy-Reeder fell short on diversity and on promoting a healthy environment
NewsPhotography
World Press Photo—which has all-white supervisory board—accused of structural racism
Photographers have criticised the Amsterdam-based photojournalism organisation, which states its core values are “accuracy, diversity, and transparency”
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Coalition calls for removal of director of Detroit Institute of Arts
Anonymous current and former staff members describe “hostile and chaotic work culture” under Salvador Salort-Pons
Newsracism
Royal College of Art leadership loses vote of no confidence over racism row
University has now “paused” its hiring of a new head of inclusion after it was blasted for appointing a white man, but could still face strike action this autumn
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Decolonising museums: the new network opening up the diversity debate in the Netherlands
Cultural institutions from Amsterdam to Utrecht will work together to advance diversity and inclusion in programming, audiences and staff
NewsPhotography
Magnum signs five new photographers after its lack of diversity comes under attack
As the photographic agency shows signs of moving towards greater inclusion, affirmative action is a hot topic at the annual general meeting
NewsJob losses
Art Institute of Chicago lays off 51 employees
Cuts come as US museums slash costs in response to loss of revenue
NewsInterview
Kaywin Feldman on how America's National Gallery of Art will 'attract the nation and reflect it, too'
The Washington museum's first female director is breaking down old silos and diversifying the staff, collection and exhibitions
Newsdiversity
Curators at Guggenheim demand ‘urgent’ reforms of racial inequities at museum
In a letter to management, they call for minority hiring efforts and an inquiry into the treatment of guest curator
NewsInternational Council of Museums
Happy International Museum Day! Why today's digital event matters now more than ever
Suay Aksoy, president of Icom, says museums closed by Covid-19 lockdowns "need to champion themselves because their survival may depend on it"
Newsdiversity
After racial incident involving a student field trip, MFA Boston reaches accord on diversity
Agreement with state attorney general calls for museum to set up a $500,000 fund promoting inclusion
News
High Museum of Art’s new galleries honour their public
Non-white visitors have jumped from 15% to half of the museum’s attendance in just three years
Analysis
Take it to the top—how US museums are dealing with diversity
Institutions need all hands on deck to redress imbalances in jobs and programming
ArchiveExhibitions
Wiels Contemporary Art Centre as the Absent Museum: old and new works come together in centre's 10th anniversary exhibition
In the heart of Europe, a new show reflects a diverse and globalised world
ArchiveBooks
Books: Have curators and collectors replaced critics? Paul Wood demystifies while Alistair Hicks disappoints
Two very different books speak to a worrying trend in the critique of art
ArchiveActivism
Ethics and aesthetics: the increasing prominence of socially engaged art
Away from the glitz of record-breaking auction prices and extravagant art parties, austerity has given strength to a new movement of socially engaged artists
ArchiveArt Basel
While Art Basel's outlook stays cosmopolitan, US artists are left in the cold by curators
Documenta, Manifesta, La Triennale and the Kiev Biennale strike a different tone to the art market
ArchiveSweden
Swedish expert claims more women in positions of influence will lead to better arts funding
Pernilla Warberg says female bosses prefer culture to football
ArchiveJuly 2010
Eli Broad addresses the American Association of Museums: “Get art out of the basement"
The collector lectures museum professionals at their annual conference in Los Angeles
ArchiveTate Modern
New acquisitions by Tate Modern show commitment to diversifying collection
Art from across the globe has recently found a home in Bankside
Archivediversity
Representation and diversity: America is changing, but are its art museums?
Most major institutions are still run by white people, are supported by them, and tailor their exhibitions to suit them
Archivediversity
Works by “more diverse” artists for White House walls
Discreet approaches have been made to dealers who represent black, Hispanic, Asian and women artists
Archivediversity
Feminist art cracks the market’s glass ceiling
Historical trends of male art selling for more are being challenged
ArchiveBooks
New book gives an unsurprising look at the Metropolitan
A collection of interviews with museum employees—from director Philippe de Montebello to a café waitress—reveals few secrets
ArchiveTate
Tate aims to increase ethnic minority visitors
In the current funding agreement with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the gallery’s “Diversity strategy” is described as a “key priority”
ArchiveVenice Biennale
Women curators appointed for the first time ever, to be followed by an American in 2007
Less circus, more focus at the Venice Biennale
ArchiveFrance
Franco-German accord on cultural diversity
Accord reflects fear of American cultural imperialism
ArchiveKen Livingstone
Ken Livingstone has revealed his 10-year “Culture strategy” for the city
The key to the mayor’s plan is “diversity”
ArchiveOpinion
A formula for indifference
Why “cultural diversity” arts policies are condescending and do not enlarge the understanding of other cultures
ArchiveArtist interview
Magic and mystery are the main concerns of Abigail Lane in her new solo show
"Magic is one of my ongoing interests"
ArchiveCultural policy
Controversy over "ethnic targets" at British national museums
The government wants to set precise goals for the number of ethnic minority visitors to museums and make funding dependent on achieving them
ArchiveWhat's on
What's on in London: Glass extravagance at Mallett's and Richard Green’s cabinet of Dutch delights
Also on show are Ewan Uglow’s precise drawings at Browse and Darby and the diverse talents of Underwood at the Redfern Gallery
ArchiveSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum
LGBT photography collection grows at the Guggenheim
A large archive of George Platt Lynes photographs, including portraits, fashion shots and homo-erotic studies, joins the Mapplethorpe bequest
ArchiveSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim's China exhibition: everything but the kitchen sink
This mega-show spanning five millennia focuses on “diversity rather than unity”, insists its organiser Sherman Lee, but does it risk homogenising Chinese art into a timeline?
ArchiveVietnam
French support cultural diversity with $3 million going to new Hanoi museum
President of France inaugurates huge new ethnological museum
ArchiveWhitney Museum of American Art
The vision for The Whitney under new leadership: less isolationist; diverse, rather than deep
David Ross, the new director reveals his ideas
CommentMuseums & Heritage
'Museums need to press the reset button and become more radical'
Directors and curators should consider this challenging moment as an opportunity diversify the stories they tell and the staff that tell them
Ben Luke