Emerging Research on Identity, Representation, and Inclusion in Museums

From 2018 to 2020, the Emerging Research on Identity, Representation & Inclusion in Museums project team set out to document graduate-level research on identity in the museum field, and support professionals’ ongoing research and publishing on these topics. Researchers at Knology synthesized over 90 graduate student theses about identity and museums from 2000 to 2018. In parallel, we interviewed a sample of the authors whose work appeared in the literature review, to understand how identity research has played a role in their careers. To support new and ongoing identity research, we hosted a 10-month Writing Scholars Workshop for a group of 12 emerging professionals from across the United States who represented diverse institutions, professional experiences, and backgrounds.

Our project showed ample evidence of museums’ efforts to address both a wide range of identities and continuously changing demographics in the United States. Graduate student research offered an elaborate illustration of this work, which is a valuable companion to the identity research published by museum researchers and professionals. The graduate literature showcased numerous efforts to respond to and represent identity through exhibitions, programs, and collaborations.

Graduate students’ writing showed that emerging museum professionals have both sophisticated thinking around and personal experience with these topics. Bringing their insights to bear on the field has the potential to transform the conversation around identity in museums.