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Friends, itâs been a tough few weeks. Itâs particularly weighed on us because the racist demands of the protests in #charlottesville were effectively asking cultural heritage institutions to uphold white supremacyâinstitutions like the ones weâve worked at for many years.
In that light, Porchia and I put together this Guide for Resistance for our friends and loved ones asking folks to stay engaged with museums and to share your critique with them to push them in more just directions. There are clearly loud voices asking institutions to reinforce the oppressive status quo. But maybe they can play a role in supporting our healing and growth, even if weâve never felt welcome.
With much love and justice. đđđ
THE VISITORS OF COLOR GUIDE TO RESISTANCE
How to use museums in times of oppression and social injustice for personal empowerment
We believe that self-care and joy are among the most important forms of resistance. And we love museums. Our Visitors of Color project was created to promote the ways in which cultural heritage institutions must ensure the inclusion of multiple narratives, perspectives, and contributions of marginalized people and communities of color. And the demands in Charlottesville this week to uphold white supremacy are against everything weâve been asking of our institutions. Here are some ways visitors of color and folks from marginalized communities can use museums to raise your voices + your spirits.
Self-care is an act of resistance. Surround yourself in beauty, thought, art and culture. We totally understand if you feel like museums arenât spaces youâre welcome to. But take some time this week to look up your local institutions and find a place or program that speaks to you, and go. Our visibility in these spaces are demands for inclusion. Visit a museum or cultural site as a means of immersing yourself in the power of creative energy, to reflect, honor, or spark dialogue. Notice your feelings about going, and if youâre unsure consider asking a friend to join you. Many museums offer free days. Take advantage.
Joy is an act of resistance. Supporting an artist or thought-leader can be so satisfying. See what museums are exhibiting artists that bring you joy or discover a new one, and visit that institution. Attend a museum talk by a thought leader, especially those on race, social justice, and inclusive history, and bring a friend.
Most museums are publicly funded institutionsâthe louder the public demand, the more they have to pivot. Part of what happened in Charlottesville was a protest demanding cultural institutions to not tear down Confederate monuments, effectively, to uphold white supremacy. Tell your local museums and cultural institutions what you want and need, what programming, events, and talks would help both your self-care and intellectual journeys. Donât see an artist, narrative or perspective that you need? Ask for it. Fill out a comment card or ping us on social media. Most of us are listening.
[Logo description: âVisitors of Colorâ text in a thick black-bordered box. Five squares with different color borders are above the box overlapping each other, each tilting a bit more to the right than the last, making them look as if they are in motion.]
Many museums offer makerspaces or classes for your creative inspiration. Many also include interactive ways to leave your opinions and perspectives when viewing timely exhibitions. Recognize that no one in the universe exists at the same intersections of life as you do, and will not have the same thoughts and critiques as you. Use these opportunities to exercise your right to civil disobedience and drop some of your knowledge on your local museum. Use these as opportunities to talk to your loved ones about social justice.
What is your local museumâs commitment to social justice? Ask them! Staff working to push institution in more radical directions needs you to ask. In what ways have your local cultural heritage institutions maintained single story narratives that have excluded important historical perspectives? Tell them! What do museums and cultural heritage institutions mean to you? Tell them!
We love museums, we love justice, and we love you.
Weâd love to support you in your local efforts or to just listen. To learn more about how people are calling for change in museums and cultural heritage institutions, like us on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr. Add your voice to the project by visiting http://visitorsofcolor.tumblr.com.
Follow us on Twitter @nikhiltri and @PorchiaMuseM.
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