Rachel Strutt

June 25 was the anniversary of a monumental shift for both civil and labor rights. On that day in 1941, President Roosevelt established the Committee on Fair Employment Practices (FEPC). The first-of-its-kind committee investigated complaints of discrimination at federal agencies, private companies, and labor unions with federal contracts that were involved in the war effort from 1941 to 1946. Although it was an executive order that established the FEPC, much credit goes to leaders like A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, who organized the first March on Washington Movement to end discrimination in the defense sector and called for federal protections of the workforce like the FEPC. ? NARA Philadelphia preserves the case files of two FEPC administrative regions. To make those key resources more available to researchers, I transcribed the Index to Active and Closed Cases, 1941–1946, of Region IV of the FEPC [https://lnkd.in/eJqtH7Z8] for a future upload to the catalog. An index like this allows a more efficient search of the collection by providing an ordered list of fields that detail the fundamental facts of each case. However, while I was transcribing, I wanted to know if any statistical patterns in the dataset could contribute to the history of the workforce during World War Two. I wrote the following blog post to activate the data contained in the index and to elevate awareness of the kinds of insights that can be drawn from this and similar collections. I accomplished this by summarizing and illuminating the range of historical circumstances and human experiences represented in the index. I hope that you’ll enjoy my dig into the data or pass it along to a researcher looking into the subject. https://lnkd.in/eiMgCX9A

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Challenge your assumptions about workplace communication. Join us for a 6-week deep dive into "Difficult Conversations in Museums" with facilitator Jennifer M. DePrizio. Many museum professionals avoid tough talks, assuming they’ll damage relationships. But what if these conversations could actually strengthen your team and drive progress? In this series, you'll: - Shift from combative to collaborative dialogues - Learn to explore differing perspectives productively - Develop skills to express yourself clearly and listen deeply Details and registration: https://lnkd.in/ee8GUPrD

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How can arts participation in communities influence social cohesion and wellbeing? One Nation/One Project seeks to answer that question. From Jill Sonke's team in Florida. Our team has undertaken foundational studies that define “arts participation,” as well as reviewed current research concerning arts participation, social cohesion and wellbeing. To read our first research brief, click here! Our Theory of Change Study is exploring relationships between the arts, social cohesion, and wellbeing through surveys, focus groups, and participatory art murals. Lastly, our team is researching social prescribing and arts prescribing through implementation science studies and in-depth case study of three #ArtsForEveryBody communities creating social prescribing programs of their own!

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Decolonization within the global museum, memory, and heritage field is more than just a concept—it's a call to action. It compels us all to collectively acknowledge the wrongs of the past and present, and to work equitably with impacted communities to correct them through meaningful, reparative actions. At Sites of Conscience, we believe dismantling systemic inequities and deconstructing dominant narratives and practices that have historically marginalized communities is crucial. True change happens when these communities are empowered as co-drivers of the process, ensuring equitable representations, countering discrimination, and fostering truth. By shifting power and grounding museum, memory, and heritage institutions in the cultural landscapes they serve, we can cultivate true inclusivity and justice. Let's commit to this ongoing process and work collectively with the communities impacted to right the wrongs of the past. #Decolonization #Museums #SitesOfConscience #Justice #CulturalHeritage

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Don't miss our next Dreaming of AI webinar on June 6th at 11 AM PT/2 PM ET with Dr. Paul Fishwick. Dr. Fishwick will be presenting on the concept of deep looking, particularly within museum settings. Deep looking involves a methodical examination of our surroundings, enriched by practices such as Slow Art, Slow Looking (as advocated by Tishman), and Artful Thinking (as developed by Project Zero). These methodologies encourage a contemplative approach to observing art and artifacts, fostering inquiry into the objects we encounter daily. Such inquiry entails navigating an interface that connects these objects with various academic or school subjects. For instance, it may involve interpreting a museum artwork through lenses such as geology, information science, art history, or from a broader STEAM perspective. AI technologies play a pivotal role in facilitating this multidisciplinary perspective-taking process. https://lnkd.in/e82Jgntd #AI #musetech #museums #deeplooking #slowart #slowlooking #STEAM

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Now, to determine the real paintings from the fakes. https://lnkd.in/gJRbC5Z6

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Future/s in the context of museums has many meanings and it's important to know which one someone is talking about. Future Oriented Museums use the tools of professional futurists and foresight practitioners to develop exhibitions and programs. Other museums create content about what they see as "the future", but often not by using the tools of foresight. Finally we have discussions about the "future of museums", which also rarely uses the futurists toolkit. If you think that's confusing, next time we can talk about "pasts"! #wordsmatter

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Culture& is conducting a new survey to find out who does and doesn’t visit museums – and why. With research showing that only 1% of museum audiences are Black (The Audience Agency, Museums Audience Report, 2018), it seems that institutions claiming to be relevant and inclusive are still ‘out of touch’ and ‘out of reach’ for many in Britain’s diverse society. The survey intends to question how accessible are these “public” spaces are. https://lnkd.in/ekE6xrvS

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feel free to share: Community Collections Grant Writing Workshop The Maryland State Archives is hosting a free event designed to make the grant-writing process easier for individuals and small groups working to digitize collections. This is specially designed for individuals and smaller historic/heritage groups, but all are welcome. Registration is required. Please sharing this with anyone who might be interested, and reach out with any questions. Community Collections Grant Writing Workshop Monday, June 17, at 10:00 am - 1:00pm Presented by Nancy Melley, Program Director for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Location: Maryland State Archives Free registration required Are you or your organization looking for funding for a digitization project? Whether you are new to the process or have done it before, this program will teach you about possible funding sources and give you a chance to learn more about the application process. This three-hour workshop will introduce attendees to the competitive archival grant programs at the National Archives, which are made through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The primary emphasis of this workshop will be on the Access to Historical Records grant program. Learn more about the program here. Attendees will have the opportunity to read and comment on two sample applications as part of the review process. They also will learn general tips that successful applicants have used to strengthen their applications. The workshop also will offer attendees the opportunity to start designing their own project and application package: defining project scope, devising a budget, developing a work plan, and preparing an application. Nancy Melley, a program director from the NHPRC, will help participants understand the grant application process, including the components of a good project summary, narrative, budget, and supplemental materials. The instructor also will discuss the review process, the response phase, and Commission recommendations.

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You knew museums were changing, but maybe not how much. Remuseum's new research report documents that almost 90% American art museums now center the public in their mission statements. 60% of those mission statements do not even mentions objects or collections. Only 11% still center objects/collections in their mission statements. A shift this radical takes a while to embody, and old habits (reflecting old missions) are often hard to shed. Remuseum’s recent research report (find it with related content at www.remuseum.org) documents that museums may be slow to embrace the degree of public transparency that their public-centered missions call for. And we invite museums to join our open data portal and share more information with the public they are built to serve. What museum data would you like to know? How would it help museums better serve their missions and thrive?

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The Spring 2024 issue of Exhibition journal is now out. “Alternative Realities” surveys many ways exhibitions can question existing systems and open pathways to new and more equitable futures. At a time when what divides us can feel almost insurmountable, authors share how they are harnessing hope, challenging prevailing narratives, and upending established museum practices as they seek to reshape our vision of what is possible—within and beyond the museum. Exhibition is a journal of exhibition theory and practice for museum professionals published by the American Alliance of Museums. To learn more about the journal, this issue, past issues, and how to subscribe, check out: https://lnkd.in/eE5Vm9hR #museums #exhibitions #exhibitiondesign

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Sadly, theft of collections can happen anywhere at any time. Are your collections secure? Are you sure? Join us on 9/25 at Ten Broeck Mansion in Albany for the workshop Security Solutions. Don't wait for the unthinkable to occur before you decide to take collection security seriously! Here is another sad example: "100-year-old coal miner’s hat stolen from museum and thrown away may be lost to time" https://lnkd.in/eZAVavjJ

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We are now accepting abstracts! Considering submitting your project to Viewfinder, an #NAEA publication on museum education and social justice. Viewfinder is currently accepting abstracts and proposals for Issue 19, which will focus on the theme of Co-creation in Practice. Co-creation is a strategy rooted in the idea of community and serves as a method of decolonizing museums. This practice is especially important when it entails giving voice to individuals who are typically marginalized within these institutions. Issue 19 of Viewfinder centers around the various obstacles and achievements encountered in the process of co-creation in museum education practice. We invite museum education professionals, scholars, and students at all levels to submit an abstract or proposal centered around the concepts of co-creation in museum education, with a focus on social justice. The deadline for submission is July 7, 2024. Viewfinder is an online publication focused on the intersection of museum education and social justice from the National Art Education Association’s Museum Education Division. More information: https://lnkd.in/gQ2M5tXh

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Another good article that spells out the post-pandemic challenges facing the arts and culture sector in RI. The proposed bond for capital projects is nice but it's like giving a starving man a gift certificate he can redeem in 6 months for a pair of shiny new shoes 2 sizes too small. That's the reality of the current situation.

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Museums are most successful when they achieve multiple objectives simultaneously. However, as one of the few remaining spaces where we can immerse ourselves in contemplation amid commercialization, consumption culture, and the experience economy, these institutions should carefully consider their approaches to revenue generation.

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This will be a good one! "As IMPs, we are sometimes asked to step into, or even lead, museums’ community engagement process. But what can we do to ensure that community engagement is equitable, just, and fruitful? Jason R.L. Wallace of Blue Goose Solutions, a firm specializing in community engagement for museums, will help us think through these questions, avoid pitfalls, and better navigate these complex and important relationships in the upcoming “Effective Community Engagement by Museums” event!"

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