A Coalition of museum professionals, artists, and cultural workers in the U.S. has launched Readying the Museum (RTM), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing long-standing inequities within art institutions.
First initiated in 2021, RTM has recently unveiled its initial program phase. The group’s primary focus is on the role of museum managers and executives in perpetuating systemic inequalities.
The formation of RTM was inspired by the global protests against racial injustice in 2020, catalyzed by the police killings of George Floyd and others. Miki Garcia, director of the Arizona State University Art Museum, and New York artist Xaviera Simmons, who received numerous requests for advice during this period, found existing DEI workshops inadequate for effecting real change. “The workshops were not enough,” Simmons stated. “We needed a way to address the deeply entrenched issues that inhibit real change.”
Garcia added, “We saw museums leaning into reactionary methods: colleagues doing token hires, museums using artists as cover, and others being ousted from museum associations.” She criticized these DEI initiatives as unsustainable and lacking in addressing root causes. “There was no desire to look at root causes and issues. There was a vast delta between what the workers were saying and the approach of those at the administrative level.”
With a $1.5 million grant, RTM aims to demonstrate a viable model for large institutions. The group draws inspiration from activist organizations like Decolonize This Place, known for its impactful protests at the Whitney Museum, which led to the resignation of the institution’s vice chair. RTM’s focus encompasses racism, patriarchy, labor conditions, and museum collections.
The core team, including Lori Fogarty from the Oakland Museum of California, and artists Cannupa Hanska Luger, Frederick Janka, and Cruz Ortiz, is investigating how senior staff can influence the museum environment.
The coalition group has engaged in challenging discussions with advisers about issues such as white fragility. “We talked about how patriarchy is a disease,” Janka recounted.
While many consulting groups focus on management strategies, RTM takes a unique approach, inspired by local Black feminist organizers and readings by Dean Spade on mutual aid and solidarity. Garcia noted that their approach is distinct from conventional museum consulting.
The coalition is currently examining how museum boards often exclude non-governing staff and artists from financial decisions that affect them. Janka mentioned that their research into trusts and donor-advised funds will inform the next phase of RTM’s work. George Scheer of the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, another founding member, highlighted that RTM is documenting how museums serve as “vehicles for wealth management” for donors.
RTM’s findings are documented on its website, ReadyingTheMuseum.com, which features case studies, essays, and interviews. The group has engaged with 250 individuals, including labor organizers and museum staff, and is building a network of partners as it continues to develop its concept.
As curators of color hired in recent years continue to leave their positions, Simmons stresses the urgency of RTM’s work. “The United States is not a mysterious place,” she asserted. “We don’t have to keep asking for more data or PhDs. That is white perfectionism, which is something we’re trying to say does not work. It’s a delay. It’s a con.”