For Immediate Release

Arlington, VA – The Latino Network of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) today released Strategies for Engaging and Representing Latinos in Museums. This resource, available in English and Spanish, responds to interest from colleagues in the museum field to attract and better serve Latino audiences, an interest that highlights a growing recognition of the important role that Latinos play in American society.

“Few resources exist in the museum field that specifically address how to better engage and serve this important, and growing, part of the US population,” said Laura Lott, President and CEO of AAM. “We are extremely proud to present this valuable tool from the AAM Latino Network to aid in museums’ efforts to create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive institutions.”

Strategies for Engaging and Representing Latinos in Museums was developed by a task force comprised of members of the AAM Latino Network—Adrián Aldaba, Natalie Espinosa, Diana Xochitl Munn, Laura Susana Reyes, and Margarita Sandino—with input from Latino museum professionals with experience in all functional areas of museums. It draws from existing literature, insights from institutions engaging in this work, and the personal experiences of individuals who have implemented Latino engagement efforts in museum settings.

The document provides background information and strategies for engaging and representing Latinos in authentic and meaningful ways. It includes questions for museums to self-assess their work with Latino communities, offers insights on the value of developing culturally specific content and bilingual initiatives, and highlights the importance of Latino representation on museum staff and boards.

“The Latino Network would like to thank all the Latino museum professionals who contributed to this document over the past several years,” said Natalie Espinosa, task force member and outgoing chair of the Latino Network. “It is our hope that this document will continue to grow and develop as more museums implement Latino engagement strategies and we begin to be more equally represented in collections, staff, and boards.”

“Leveraging best practices from the US Latino museum ecosystem, the AAM Latino Network’s Strategies for Engaging and Representing Latinos in Museums provides tools for all museums to foster welcoming spaces and engaging opportunities for Latino audiences,” said Adrián Aldaba, task force member and incoming chair of the Latino Network. “As museums commit to becoming more diverse and equitable, our hope is that they will also become Latino-serving institutions.”

Strategies for Engaging and Representing Latinos in Museums is available as a free downloadable PDF.

 

About the AAM Latino Network:

Established in 1992, the Latino Network (LN) of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) represents Latino professionals working in museums and cultural institutions in the United States. The Latino Network offers expertise to US museums interested in engaging Latino audiences through the development of exhibitions, collections, public programs, and education initiatives and provides guidance to museums across the US and Latin America in their efforts to create partnerships and collaborations. They are a welcoming forum for Latino museum professionals to foster connections and share career opportunities and a national platform to amplify Latino-related events and exhibitions through our mailing list and social media channels.

For more information, visit https://www.aam-us.org/professional-networks/latino-network/.

 

About AAM

The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.