SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 ACTION EDUCATION ADVOCACY + PURPOSE CULTIVATING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT A message to our museum family DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. As our nation confronts this period of uncertainty, we want to assure you that one thing has not changed, our support for museums and cultural sites across this country and the world. 10-31 is a family company and we stand with our museum family partners as we weather these historic times. We understand that capital purchases are not a part of your near-term goals, but we will be here for you when this world starts spinning again. We’re a business of relationships, not transactions. If there is anything we can help with, let us know and we will be there for you. Your Family at 10-31 and Art Display Essentials SIGNS 10-31.COM 800.862.9869 EXHIBITION DESIGN THE PRD GROUP SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 5 From the President and CEO 6 By the Numbers 8 Point of View Get Out the Vote 12 Point of View Being Part of FEATURES the Solution 18 Space for Civic Dialogue 44 Alliance in Action A public education program at the Walker Art Center involving local artists invites 48 Reflection community conversation on immigration and citizenship. By Jacqueline Stahlmann 24 Civics in Action How can museums nurture the next generation of citizen-leaders? By Tony Pennay 28 Redefining ‘American’ A collection initiative at the National Museum of American History gives voice to undocumented immigrant activism. By Patricia Arteaga and Nancy Bercaw 32 Making the Abstract Real Minneapolis Cover: The US Capitol Visitor Center engages Artwork by @CeceCarpio student audiences near and far in civics Center, education. Art By Nik Apostolides Walker for 37 Rising to the Challenge Fletcher In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, museums are broadening their missions Galen to serve community needs. by By Mary Ellen Collins Photo 2 MUSEUM / September−October 2020 / aam-us.org GLASBAU HAHN Mercury MR-2, Gemini 11 and Apollo ASTP capsules, California Science Center, Los Angeles. On loan from the Smithsonian Institution. HAHN MUSEUM DISPLAY CASES WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP IN PRESERVATION & PRECISION • MicroClimate Conditioning • HAHN Pure Conservation • Advanced Lighting Systems • HAHN Nitrogen Case • Security Systems • HLS Modular Case Glasbau Hahn America · 15 Little Brook Lane · Newburgh, NY 12550 · 845-566-3331 · [email protected] · www.glasbau-hahn.com twitter.com/aamers facebook.com/americanmuseums A B E N E F I T O F M E M B E R S H I P I N T H E A M E R I C A N A L L I A N C E O F M U S E U M S linkedin.com/company/american-linkedin.com/groups/American- EDITOR IN CHIEF DESIGN AND PRODUCTION alliance-of-museumsAlliance-Museums-2965314 Dean Phelus Team of Creatives, LLC MANAGING EDITOR ADVERTISING Gayle Bennett Carol Nettles instagram.com/aamersofficial [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS 404-347-1755 Megan Lantz, Cecelia Walls ALLIANCE PRESIDENT AND CEO Laura L. Lott Thanks to our Member Discount Providers ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS TERM OF OFFICE 2019–2022 Chair (2020–2022) Robert M. Davis, America’s Black Chevy Humphrey, Arizona Science Holocaust Museum Center Marcia DeWitt, Hillwood Estate, Vice Chair (2020–2021) Museum and Garden Berit N. Durler, San Diego Zoo Global Kelly McKinley, Bay Area Discovery Treasurer (2020–2021) Museum Jorge Zamanillo, HistoryMiami Museum James Pepper Henry, First Americans Immediate Past Chair (2020–2022) Museum Kippen de Alba Chu, Fort Worth Julie Stein, Burke Museum of Natural Museum of Science and History History and Culture TERM OF OFFICE 2018–2021 TERM OF OFFICE 2020–2023 Susana Smith Bautista, Independent Devon Akmon, Science Gallery Detroit Museum Consultant Carrie Rebora Barratt, The New York Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, Illinois State Botanical Garden Museum Frederic Bertley, Center of Science and Nathan Richie, Golden History Museum Industry and Park Alison Rempel Brown, Science Ruth Shelly, Portland Children’s Museum of Minnesota Museum Christine A. Donovan, Northern Trust Stephanie Stebich, Smithsonian Company American Art Museum Charles L. Katzenmeyer, Field Museum Karol Wight, The Corning Museum of Glass MUSEUM (ISSN 0027-4089) SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020, VOLUME 99, NO. 4 PUBLISHED BIMONTHLY (J/F, M/A, M/J, J/A, S/O, N/D) BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS 2451 CRYSTAL DRIVE, SUITE 1005, ARLINGTON, VA 22202; 202-289-1818; FAX 202-289-6578; WWW. AAM-US.ORG. Annual subscription rate is $38. Copies are mailed to all members. Single copy is $7. Overseas airmail is an additional $45. Membership in the Alliance includes $22 from annual membership dues applicable to a subscription to MUSEUM, except for students and retirees. (This notice is required by the US Postal Service.) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MUSEUM, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 1005, Arlington, VA 22202. Copyright 2018, American Alliance of Museums. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine or its cover may be reproduced without written consent of the copyright proprietor. MUSEUM is indexed in The Art Index, which is published quarterly and available in public libraries. The magazine is available from ProQuest in the following formats: microform, electronic and paper. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Alliance. Preferred Periodical postage paid at Arlington, VA, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the US by Lane Press, Burlington, VT. 4 MUSEUM / September−October 2020 / aam-us.org FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO Our Role in This Historic Moment Each election cycle, we are overwhelmed Why is 2020 a unique win- with media claims that this is an election year like none dow of opportunity to influence other. Whether you take this to heart or consider it change? Not only will we elect repetitive, it’s hard to deny that in 2020, this is truly the a president in November, but case. a total of 470 seats in the US The global COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting Congress (35 Senate seats and all financial and health crises have been compounded by 435 House seats) are up for elec- social unrest and calls for racial justice. Alliance muse- tion. To put it another way, every ums were closed for months and, sadly, thousands of member of the House, along museum staff lost their jobs. It is abundantly clear that with about a third of the Senate, we are at a turning point in our country’s history. As is fighting for their job. As a museums, we have unique and special roles to play in result, your advocacy is aimed at a this historic moment. very receptive audience. For resources that can help you Your first inclination may be to shudder at the make the case for museums, visit bit.ly/invite-congress. prospect of involving your museum in lobbying or The American public considers museums to be voter engagement. Please know that while nonprofit among the most trustworthy sources of information. museums are prohibited from supporting or oppos- This posits us to play a unique role in helping our com- ing candidates for public office, they are free (and munities activate their voices in the most powerful way: encouraged) to advocate throughout the year and to by voting. We must take up our role as institutional encourage participation in the democratic process. In leaders in our communities and share information on fact, you can encourage participation in the electoral the voting process; how to register; and importantly process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote in this time of physical distancing, how to engage in activities, if you do so in a nonpartisan manner. the democratic process without choosing between the As an example of the power you wield as advocates, ability to vote and community health and safety. we don’t have to look back more than a few months. Tuesday, September 22, 2020, is National Voter This past spring, you sent more than 45,000 messages Registration Day—a day founded by and for nonprofit to Congress seeking financial relief and support for organizations. The Alliance is proud to be a partner of museums shut down due to the pandemic. This is the this national effort, and we encourage every museum to strongest advocacy we’ve seen in a generation, and it consider how it can engage in the democratic process resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in vital re- this year. To learn more, visit the Nonprofit Voter lief. You have the power—and responsibility—as indi- Resources page on our website at bit.ly/voter-resources. viduals and organizations to advocate for our field and educate policy makers about how critical museums are Laura L. Lott to our nation’s education system, in the preservation —June 30, 2020 of our history and culture, and in the recovery of our communities from the pandemic. Laura L. Lott is the Alliance’s president and CEO. Follow Laura on Twitter at @LottLaura. MUSEUM / September−October 2020 / aam-us.org 5 BY THE NUMBERS Civic People who visit museums are Engagement 50% more likely to vote than those who do not visit museums at all. 18%Percentage of regular museum-goers who think museums should “facilitate more civic conversations about currently divisive issues affecting us.” 1 in 4 Number of regular museum- goers who think museums should make “wide- scale changes” to reflect and engage diverse audiences. iStock.com/Asobinin Sources: Clockwise from left: Museums & Public Opinion: Summary of Findings from National Public Opinion Polling by AAM and Wilkening Consulting; 2020 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers by AAM and Wilkening Consulting; and 2020 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers by AAM and Wilkening Consulting By the Numbers was compiled by Susie Wilkening, principal of Wilkening Consulting, wilkeningconsulting.com.