Here is a not-so-secret bit of information you might not know but probably could have guessed: museums are mostly run by white people.

Their institutional histories, their collections and their funding are often deeply rooted in colonialism and they have traditionally promoted a Euro-centric worldview. What you may be less aware of is that the wave of decolonization that began last century has begun crashing on the shores of the museum world. In addition to the long-standing call to go beyond dominant narratives and reflect our varied humanity, museums are now increasingly held accountable for their internal practices and the role they play in a volatile world.

What do they do and how do they do it? And who is at the table when they decide? How exactly did they get that art? How are they making an impact in the world?

When your organization is built on the premise that you provide space with the power to be variously entertaining and informative, to build community, to maybe even be transcendent for anyone who walks through the door, then questions of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEAI) cut right to the core of your mission.

PEM just received an object lesson in just how powerfully DEAI issues impact our work during the opening days of our most recent exhibition Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle. Curating an exhibition where black artists tackle the complex history of the formation of America and forcefully claim space for the black people, indigenous people and women whose stories often go untold is an important step for a museum to take, and one we are excited about.

We are proud to amplify the voices of Lawrence and the other artists who contributed to the show, and have already witnessed their work creating moments of insight, emotion and connection that museum workers wish they could bottle and bring to our leadership. It drives home the point that we need to pay greater attention to these voices.