The American Association of Museums and its Board of Directors are strongly committed to addressing issues of diversity in the museum community.
In the winter of 2004, AAM organized a Forum on Leadership Development and Diversity which brought together a distinguished group of museum leaders and members of the funding community to examine this issue and discuss the challenges to its achievement.
As a result of this gathering, AAM helped form the Museums and Diversity National Initiative (M&D), a collaboration of nine museum service organizations committed to sharing their resources, expertise, and creativity to better support their constituents, as well as the entire museum field, in an effort toward diversity and inclusive practices at every level of museum work.
The initiative addresses three broad areas of diversity: Ourselves (increasing diversity among museum staffs, boards, volunteers, and future museum professionals), Our Institutions (making our programs, exhibits, facilities, and policies welcoming to diverse constituents), and Our Communities (engaging our current and potential audiences, partners, policy makers, and funders).
M&D will bring the field together to evaluate currently available tools and resources, use our collective experience to modify and strengthen these resources, and determine what new tools and resources are needed to:
- Attract and recruit qualified diverse candidates for paid and unpaid positions at all levels (board, CEO/director, staff, volunteers)
- Retain and advance diverse professionals
- Inspire and cultivate interest among diverse audiences to pursue museum careers
- Create organizational plans, policies, and procedures that encourage a culturally competent and diverse staff, both paid and unpaid
- Develop programs, services, and facilities that are welcoming, engaging, and relevant to their diverse communities
- Analyze and identify their current and future communities and audiences
- Engage with their communities and make their resources and assets known and available
Funding is currently being sought to develop programs to accomplish these goals.
Diversity Resources
Diversity resources are available in the Information Center.
Diversity Fellowships for qualifying museum professionals and full-time students in a museum-related course of study are available to AAM members to attend AAM Annual Meetings and Professional Education Seminars.
Standing Professional Committee for Diversity in Museums (DivCom) is the AAM member committee that seeks to enrich, expand, and enliven how we define our museum community and the diverse audiences it serves. Join DivCom
In April 2005 the AAM Board of Directors adopted a National Statement on Diversity.
Museums and Diversity National Initiative Partners
American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)
American Association of Museums (AAM)
American Public Gardens Association (APGA)
Association of African American Museums (AAAM)
Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD)
Association of Children's Museum (ACM)
Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC)
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM)
