I was doing some research and some thinking, and the subject "Museums on the Front Lines: Preserving Truth and Integrity Amid Partisan History Wars" came up somewhere. I wrote it down because it got me thinking. I don't mean for this to be viewed as a political hot take, although maybe some folks would see it as such. But I do think we're in a unique time where there's partisan fighting over how to tell our history in the US. SO my question is: How is your institution navigating pressure to frame history through partisan lenses?
I'm curious whether museums in this community are encountering requests, whether from boards, donors, elected officials, or vocal community members, to emphasize or downplay certain historical narratives for political reasons. Are you facing pressure to avoid "controversial" topics, or conversely, to take explicit political stances?
Have you developed strategies for maintaining scholarly integrity while remaining responsive to your community? I'm especially interested in hearing from museum professionals who've successfully maintained their institution's credibility and trust across the political spectrum, or who've found ways to have productive conversations when stakeholders want history told in ways that align with their worldview rather than the evidence.
What's working? What's not? And are there resources or approaches we should be sharing with each other? Thanks!
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Dan Moyle
Solutions Consultant
Digital Reach Online Solutions
(he/him/his)
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