"The program has had an effect in a way that I wasn't even aware of. Only a short time after my arrival home, my husband asked, "What happened to you out there? You're different." More confident maybe, more open perhaps, but definitely different, I'm sure. Thanks again."
Those were the words Toni Benedict, Education Specialist at the New York State Museum, chose to summarize her experience as a participant in this year's Awards for Museum Leadership program. Held at the Smithsonian July 19 - 23, 1993, the Awards for Museum Leadership promotes and celebrates diversity in the museum community. Outstanding museum professionals of diverse cultural backgrounds are selected through a competitive process and are offered an opportunity to explore and debate current issues in the field and to share ideas for confronting the day to day challenges facing people of color in the museum field.
This year, the program hosted a dynamic group of fifteen museum professionals, representing a stunning diversity of museums, disciplines, areas of expertise and cultural backgrounds. While diverse in their backgrounds and experiences, they shared a commitment to supporting each other and to working for change from within the museum profession. It happened that all of the participants this year were women and all were at similar levels in their career development. All participants work at supervisory levels within their institutions and have been in the museum profession for at least two years.
Claudine Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arts and Humanities at the Smithsonian; Rayna Green, Director, American Indian Program at the National Museum of American History; Steven Newsome, Director, Anacostia Museum and W. Richard West, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian served as principle faculty for the five day program. Sessions focused on issues in museum management including the challenge of maintaining a commitment to diversity in the face of shrinking budgets, strategies for advancing one's career, managing a diverse staff and strategic planning. Faculty and participants also explored issues of scholarship in museums, ideas for involving the community in the interpretation of their material culture and ways to strengthen partnerships between museums and community constituents. The limited size of the group created an intimate and safe setting for discussing sensitive issues. Participants could also informally discuss ideas with museum leaders who in another setting might seem unapproachable.
The program concluded with the second annual Awards for Museum Leadership debate. Participants were asked to divide into teams and debate whether the multiculturalism movement has done more to help or to hurt the museum profession. Fath Ruffins, a historian at the National Museum of American History, moderated the debate and the lively discussion that followed.
By the end of the week, the fifteen participants had shared and helped each other clarify what leadership is and received from each other renewed confidence in their own potential as museum leaders. The following are statements and impressions participants shared with us in the weeks following the program:
"It was an honor to participate in this very worthwhile program. Aside from getting to know and share experiences with colleagues from all over the nation, I learned there is a tremendous difference between leading your institution and managing it. After this week, the challenge has been put to us to become leaders in every sense of the word." (T. Lani Maa Lapilio, The Judiciary History Center, Honolulu.)
"Being part of the program was one of the most validating experiences in my career. Before that week I never thought of myself as a museum professional. During the week of the program I was able to see how much I had contributed to moving the mission of the Children's Museum forward. Through my discussions and interactions with other professionals, I also recognized that I had moved on my own mission and purpose for entering the museum field. I thank my sister participants and instructors for helping me to rekindle the leader who lives within me. I now throw my torch into the fire." (Ditra Edwards, The Children's Museum, Boston.)
"As a result of [the] meeting, I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to the museum field. Not only did you and your staff let us know you expected us to be leaders but you also showed us how to impact our profession. The energy of the interactions between the participants and the staff was exhilarating and empowering. The contacts made with Smithsonian staff and the other program participants are invaluable to me. Thank you for organizing the meeting, it far exceeded my expectations." (Marselina Yanez, Austin Children's Museum)
"Of all the seminars and conferences I've attended in the past seven years, the Awards for Museum Leadership program supersedes all the others in reference to motivation! I now want to be part of the leaders and mentors for future generations! My attendance in the program has given me the incentive to participate in the Youth Motivation Program, sponsored by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, for the 1993-94 school year. The Youth Motivation Program links volunteer business professionals with high school and elementary students in the Chicago public school system...these professionals will share their own life's experiences and serve as role models for young people anxious to talk about their hopes, dreams, and fears as they face the future. Never before did I have the confidence to attempt such a feat! I owe a lot to the AML program and to each and every one of my fellow participants! Thank you everyone!" (Ellen Ushioka, The Museum Of Contemporary Photography, Chicago.)
"It was a real joy to be there, get to know you all and have such an enriching experience." (Alejandra Miranda-Naon Gray, B&O Railroad Museum.)
(Gayle Edmunds is Acting Deputy Director, Office of Museum Programs.
The Awards for Museum Leadership is an annual museum management seminar, sponsored by the Office of Museum Programs, for people of color working in museums. The 1994 program will be held in July; a program brochure and application information will be available in December.
A transcript of this year's Awards for Museum Leadership debate, "Has multiculturalism helped or hurt the museum profession?" will appear in the next issue of The Bulletin.)