Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Thelma Golden, the Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, recently unveiled the Museum’s Arts Leadership Praxis, a unique six-month program set to commence annually. This initiative aims to provide professional development and foster cohort-building specifically for cultural professionals of color and those significantly engaged in Black cultural production who are in the early to mid-stages of their careers. The program is designed not only to nurture talent but also to address long-standing inequities within arts institutions.
The Arts Leadership Praxis is part of a broader array of initiatives under the Studio Museum Institute, which includes internships, fellowships, and various educational programs. These are all aimed at supporting a diverse range of artists, curators, educators, and students, reinforcing the museum’s mission as a pivotal hub for artists of African descent both locally and globally.
Golden highlighted that the launch of the Arts Leadership Praxis continues the museum’s 55-year legacy of addressing educational and programmatic needs across the arts sector. This initiative is particularly timely, responding to findings from studies by the Mellon Foundation and Museums Moving Forward that indicate a significant underrepresentation of people of color in museum leadership roles nationwide.
The inaugural class of the Arts Leadership Praxis consists of eight professionals based in New York, chosen through a nomination and application process influenced by field experts. This class includes individuals from prestigious institutions such as The Shed, Fotografiska, the Brooklyn Museum, the Public Art Fund, The Kitchen, the Processing Foundation, and MoMA.
Since its first meeting in late January 2024, the cohort has engaged in various activities, including discussions with leading curators, a group trip to Los Angeles, and intensive workshops. These experiences are designed to broaden their understanding of different models and networks within the arts community. The program is set to conclude in June 2024 with a networking event that connects participants with alumni of the Studio Museum Institute, ensuring ongoing mentorship and professional growth.
This pioneering program is expected to have a profound impact on the tourism industry by enhancing the diversity and inclusivity of museum leadership. Such diversity can attract a broader audience by presenting a wider array of cultural narratives and perspectives, making museums more representative and appealing to diverse visitors. Additionally, by fostering leadership that resonates with a wider demographic, museums can anticipate an increase in engagement from international tourists and local visitors alike, drawn to culturally rich and diverse programming. The initiative, supported partly by the Ford Foundation, not only enriches the professional lives of its participants but also promises to transform the cultural landscape of museums across the nation.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
