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  • 1.  Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

    Posted 11-18-2022 03:49 PM
    All,

    I have a museum client whose Board is interested in a statement or policy to guide the museum's decision to include Spanish translations for exhibit test. The museum is located less than an hour from the US/Mexico border. 
    My question "why not?" and my encouragement to "just do it for your community" needs a little backing. 

    Does anyone have anything? Thank you.

    Matt Kirchman

    President and Creative Director


    Planning and Design


    617-233-8702

    9 Naples Road, Salem, Massachusetts 01970

    http://www.objectidea.com/









  • 2.  RE: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

    Posted 11-21-2022 09:09 AM
    Can you do some quick research and add demographic stats?

    ------------------------------
    Lauren T. Furey
    Director of Visitor Services
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  • 3.  RE: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

    Posted 11-21-2022 09:47 AM
    Dear Matt (if I may) - I would also recommend an examination of data like local population demographics vis a vis the museum's "standard" clientele.  You don't say what the mission of the museum is (genre, holdings, programming, etc.) but wouldn't it be fabulous to discover that such translations might meet the needs of people (both local and tourists) who have felt unwelcomed?  What's the school population like?  Without even knowing the museum's content, it seems that at least a test would be a no-brainer.  Vivian





  • 4.  RE: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

    Posted 11-21-2022 10:34 AM
    Matt,

    You may have seen these resources, but just in case:

    This research paper shows some interesting behavoir changes in museum exhibits when bi-lingual graphic panels were present:
    Bilingual Exhibit Research Initiative:
    Institutional and Intergenerational Experiences
    with Bilingual Exhibitions, 2013
    https://resources.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/2013-10-01_BERI_Research_report_Final_Sep_2013.pdf

    This paper has some of the same information but in an easier to read format:
    Strategies for Engaging and Representing Latinos in Museums
    https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AAMLN-Strategies-for-Engaging-and-Representing-Latinos-in-Museums.pdf

    Here is a list of changes that the Smithsonian is making to engage more fully with the Latinx community:
    https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-statement-latino-representation

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    Douglas Flandro
    Exhibit Designer
    Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.
    Cambridge MA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

    Posted 11-21-2022 11:30 AM
    Hello Matt,

    The Smithsonian (one of many partners that Eriksen Translations assists with language services) has a great statement about Latino Representation on their website:

    Smithsonian Statement on Latino Representation | Smithsonian Institution
    Smithsonian Institution remove preview
    Smithsonian Statement on Latino Representation | Smithsonian Institution
    We reviewed UCLA's report, Invisible No More: An Evaluation of the Smithsonian Institution and Latino Representation, and its findings. Latino history is American history, and it is important to us that all Americans visiting Smithsonian museums and websites see themselves represented in the stories we tell.
    View this on Smithsonian Institution >

    Best regards,

    Will Lach
    Eriksen Translations
    917/ 370-2808

    ------------------------------
    Will Lach
    Director of Sales
    Eriksen Translations Inc.
    Brooklyn NY
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  • 6.  RE: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

    Posted 11-22-2022 10:36 AM
    The Hudson Valley has a large and growing Latinx population, and we are doing our best to make our spaces and events inclusive, welcoming and accessible to Spanish speakers. We're received help with interpreters, simultaneous interpretation technology, and advice from a local organization called Hudson Valley Farm Hub. They focus on sustainable agriculture, and because the majority of farm workers prefer to communicate in Spanish, they also run a great "Language Justice" program. Their materials that might be useful: https://hvfarmhub.org/language-justice/

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    Sarah Gordon PhD
    Curator
    Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History
    Kingston, New York
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    Original Message


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