Arts institutions, such as museums, were founded on colonialist ideas – white Europeans collected the rest of the world during their conquests and travels, establishing places to promote one set of cultural ideals at the expense of others. Though many have reexamined their history and practices, shifting their missions toward education and visitor experience, museums and other arts institutions carry the baggage of these historic origins. For our arts institutions to matter and fulfill their mission to BiPOC and future publics can we rethink and repair them? Or, should we knock them all down and rebuild new institutions? Or something in between?
