Open Forum

Can you do some quick research and add demographic stats?

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Lauren T. Furey
Director of Visitor Services
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-18-2022 03:48 PM
From: Matt Kirchman
Subject: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

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/

Original Message:
Sent: 11/18/2022 3:49:00 PM
From: Matt Kirchman
Subject: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

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/

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:
Sent: 11-21-2022 09:47 AM
From: Vivian Zoe
Subject: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

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

Original Message:
Sent: 11/18/2022 3:49:00 PM
From: Matt Kirchman
Subject: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

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/

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

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Will Lach
Director of Sales
Eriksen Translations Inc.
Brooklyn NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-18-2022 03:48 PM
From: Matt Kirchman
Subject: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

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/

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:
Sent: 11-21-2022 11:29 AM
From: Will Lach
Subject: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

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

Original Message:
Sent: 11-18-2022 03:48 PM
From: Matt Kirchman
Subject: Statement of Commitment for Bilingual Exhibitions

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/