Recording Available: “Race, Unrest, and the Role of Heritage Areas and the Museum Field”
On September 22, there was an online panel discussion entitled, “Race, Unrest, and the Role of Heritage Areas and the Museum Field,” organized by the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, in partnership with the Coalition of Heritage Areas and the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. If you missed the panel discussion and wish to view it, you can view the recording on the Maryland Milestones/ATHA YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/
The panel discussion was planned as a follow-up to an important webinar/discussion that took place during the American Alliance of Museums annual conference on June 3, that included Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, Spelman College President Johnetta Cole, and Lori Fogarty, Director of the Oakland Museum of California. In it, Secretary Bunch recognized that museums, “…don’t have broad enough shoulders to do everything….the question really is, what is the new model for us?” Echoing his call for collaboration, Director Fogarty called for “… an ecology and landscape with others… other organizations that are looking to do the same collective action.” To view the recorded webinar, or read the transcript, click here: https://www.aam-us.org/2020/06/09/racism-unrest-and-the-role-of-the-museum-field/
The program on 9/22 was a one-hour conversation exploring the opportunity for Maryland’s heritage areas, and our partners, to help bring about a new model of collaboration as museums strive to be centers of their communities, and consider how heritage areas might provide, or help nurture, this new model. Dr. Crew’s remarks were particularly helpful.
Speakers: Dr. Spencer R. Crew, Acting Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture; Lindsey Baker, Executive Director, Maryland Humanities; and Omar Eaton-Martínez, Assistant Division Chief for Historic Resources, Prince George’s County Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission.