Brown Bag Virtual Lunch - Small Steps, Big Topic: Introducing Equity and Inclusion into the Institution

Small Steps, Big Topic: Introducing Equity and Inclusion into the Institution

Presenters: Alexander Brooks, Education Manager, Gaston County Museum of Art & History and Nancy Fields, Director/Curator, Museum of the Southeast American Indian

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI) continue to be hot button topics these days, particularly in the museum field. How should institutions apply these topics in respect to their employees, their volunteers, their exhibits and programming and their audiences? With so many different things to consider and polarizing elements, the whole concept can be daunting, particularly to institutions without substantial resources to devote to the issues. In this session, speakers from three very different museums will examine their own institution’s handling and experiences of DEAI and discuss the roles of museums as effective conduits of community discussion and places of acceptance in a world that, at times, isn’t so accepting.

This session will begin with an informal round-table discussion by the speakers and will break out into smaller, moderated groups to explore ways in which institutions can begin to implement DEAI practices, celebrating race, age, disability, sexuality and gender in all aspects of the institution without breaking the bank or causing staff burnout.