Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility (DEIA) Updates
In September 2022, the Museum of Northwest Art published the Statement of Institutional Commitments to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) to inform our community of our commitment to DEIA principles and practices. A commitment to DEIA principles involves not only one-time actions, but a continued and sustained investment in creating and maintaining a place of belonging for all community members, visitors, volunteers and staff. Creating a more equitable organization is an ongoing process.
MoNA Moment:
A young artist shows off their creation inspired by MoNA’s Art Studio during our Community Art Celebration
As promised, here is an update on the actions MoNA has taken since 2022 to foster accountability and transparency. The following is a non-exhaustive list of steps aiming at creating a more equitable Museum:
Visitor Experience:
In 2022, we converted a bathroom on the first floor to an all-gender restroom to be more inclusive of all our community members, including trans and gender-diverse people and people of all abilities. Learn more about why all-gender restrooms in public spaces are important to creating more inclusive environments.
Since 2022, MoNA’s exhibition descriptors, interpretative gallery guides and main texts in all of the galleries are bilingual: English and Spanish.
In Winter 2024, we updated all permanent directional signage with Spanish and Lushootseed. Learn about the translators and how to pronounce the Lushootseed signage here.
Exhibitions & Collections:
MoNA’s exhibitions program has intentionally increased its representation of marginalized artists, including Black, Latinx, Native American, and LGBTQ+ artists. Exhibitions such as Alfredo Arreguín: Painter from the New World curated by Matthew Kangas; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls curated by Patricia Christine Aqiimuk Paul, Esq. and Candice Wilson ~ Quatz’tenaut; and My Roots: Honoring the Cultural Identity of Skagit Valley’s Under-Resourced Children curated by Children of the Valley show the museum’s commitment to represent and amplify the diverse voices and lived experiences in the Northwest.
MoNA’s acquisitions program for Permanent Collection continues to actively increase the number of works in the collection by diverse and under-represented artists. Since 2022, we have acquired work by artists such as Barbara Earl Thomas, Dan Friday, Alfredo Arreguín, George Tsutakawa, Masami Koda, Gerard Tsutakawa, Jacob Lawrence, Paul Horiuchi, Takao Tanabe, Preston Singletary, James Lavadour, Rick Bartow, Joe Feddersen, and Akio Takamori among others.
Education:
In Fall 2023, staff and docents undertook a DEIA training with Dr. Bre, focused on centering mental and emotional wellbeing as a powerful catalyst for positive social change.
After hearing from our stakeholders, we reduced the MoNA Link program from a two year program to a one year program for the incoming 2024 cohort, enabling the MoNA Education Department to accept 15 teachers into each year’s cohort and making the program a more accessible commitment for program participants.
Planning events to make these opportunities more inclusive of working families. Check out our Community Art Celebration from July 9, 2024 to see an example.
Working with Skagit Transit to make Skagit Transit Guides available to our visitors and considering bus schedules when scheduling events.
Making transcripts available for recent MoNA Moments podcast episodes.
DEIA work requires an ongoing commitment to do better for our community. As most museums, MoNA has a ways to go to make our institution more inclusive and equitable across the organization. Please get in touch with us with questions or thoughts about our commitments to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. We will continue to periodically share our actions and results with our community through this blog.
Stefano Catalani
Executive Director & Chief Curator | Museum of Northwest Art
Click below to read the Statement of Institutional Commitments to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.
Thumbnail Image: Students on a field trip visiting MoNA during Alfredo Arreguín: Painter from the New World
Image Above: Artist Celebration 2024