Museums and Social Justice: Toward Reckoning and Change

Curator Reilly (Curatorial Activism) interrogates contemporary museums’ commitment to social justice in this scholarly work. Drawing from a wide range of examples, Reilly argues that most modern museums are falling far short of their diverse ideals and are dragging their feet on promises to return stolen artifacts. For example, the Benin Bronzes­—metal sculptures created from the 16th century onward in what’s now Nigeria—were looted in 1897 by British forces, and despite repeated calls to return them to Nigeria, remain in some Western museums. Elsewhere, Reilly pushes against the “toxic philanthropy” that allows moneyed entities like the Sackler family and British Petroleum to burnish their reputations by sponsoring museum wings and exhibits, and critiques museums for pursuing unsustainable growth initiatives. She does give due to institutions that seek to honor diverse populations in their art and curation. In particular, she cites the U.K. Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery, which was cocurated by local members of the South Asian diaspora, and the National Museum in Warsaw, which put on a 2010 exhibit of LGBTQ+ art stretching from antiquity to present that—in spite of virulent protest from far-right politicians—attracted more media attention and visitors than any of the museum’s previous exhibits. In critically examining the missteps and progress of museums, Reilly highlights both how far these institutions have come and how much work remains. Specialists will be edified. (Sept.)