{"id":12016,"date":"2019-05-28T19:00:55","date_gmt":"2019-05-28T23:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/?p=12016"},"modified":"2019-05-31T18:50:21","modified_gmt":"2019-05-31T22:50:21","slug":"mfa-racism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/2019\/05\/28\/mfa-racism\/","title":{"rendered":"MFA Bans 2 Visitors, Continues Bias Training After Students Complain Of Racist Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated with May 31, 2019, statements from MFA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Boston\u2019s Museum of Fine Arts says it has banned two visitors for making racist comments to seventh graders from Boston\u2019s Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy during a school tour of the museum on May 16. The museum says it will also offer training to its staff in response to complaints from school teachers and students that the museum\u2019s treatment of them was racist.<\/p>\n

The Museum of Fine Arts has been the subject of international reports and criticism after students from the school charged that they were told by a museum staffer, \u201cNo food, no drink, and no watermelon,\u201d during an orientation at the beginning of their museum visit. Students and faculty complained that museum guards followed the more than two dozen students, all children of color, and that museum patrons made racist comments to them. When a student danced to music included in an exhibit, Marvelyne Lamy, a seventh-grade English teacher at the school, wrote in a May 20 Facebook post, a \u201cvisitor said that\u2019s it\u2019s a shame that she is not learning and instead stripping.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLast week, a number of students on an organized visit encountered a range of challenging and unacceptable experiences that made them feel unwelcome,\u201d the museum said in an \u201cOpen Letter from the MFA Leadership Team\u201d that was posted to its website on May 22. \u201cThat is not who we are or want to be. Our intention is to set the highest of standards, and we are committed to doing the work that it will take to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

On May 24, the Museum of Fine Arts announced that after investigating, it will also provide additional training for all frontline staff on how to engage with school groups and continue mandatory unconscious bias training, conflict resolution training, and sexual harassment training for all staff. (At bottom, see full statement from the museum as well as MFA Director Matthew Teitelbaum\u2019s note.)<\/p>\n

\""Museum<\/a>
“Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Announces Steps to Address Results of Investigation into Davis Leadership Academy Group Visit on May 16, 2019.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As for the \u201cNo food, no drink, and no watermelon\u201d comment that students reported hearing, the museum writes, \u201cThe employee who greeted the group recalled relaying as part of standard operating procedures that \u2018no food, no drink and no water bottles\u2019 were allowed in the galleries. There is no way to definitively confirm or deny what was said or heard in the galleries. Regardless, the MFA is committed to providing additional training for all frontline staff on how to engage with incoming school groups about policies and guidelines. These guidelines are in place to ensure the comfort and safety of all visitors and staff, as well as the protection of objects in our care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regarding the actions of museum security, the museum reports: \u201cThese spaces were patrolled by 13 separate security guards who were all stationed in designated areas. During this time, guards went on and off break and occasionally overlapped as they moved from one area or another. Based on surveillance footage, it is understandable that, because of this movement, the students felt followed. That was not our intention. It is unacceptable that they felt racially profiled, targeted and harassed. In response, the MFA is taking a number of steps to adapt security procedures\u2014specifically designed to make sure that all people feel welcome, safe and respected at the museum. This includes additional training for guards in how they engage with visitors inside and outside the museum, as well as reviewing how guards are instructed to patrol the galleries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previously:<\/strong> \u2018No Food, No Drink And No Watermelon\u2019\u2014MFA Apologizes For Racist Mistreatment Of Students<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Friday, May 24, 2019:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Announces Steps to Address Results of Investigation into Davis Leadership Academy Group Visit on May 16, 2019<\/a><\/h3>\n

BOSTON (May 24, 2019)\u2014The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), has concluded its investigation into a school field trip organized by the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy (DLA) on May 16, 2019. The MFA is releasing its findings after reviewing extensive video footage, conducting in-depth interviews with staff and visitors, and collaborating with the school. Upon learning of the class\u2019s experience, Museum leadership immediately contacted school officials to apologize. Since that day, the MFA has re-created the group\u2019s entire three-hour visit via security footage and spoken with dozens of people who interacted with them. The Museum has conducted this investigation according to standard internal procedures, but acknowledges that in today\u2019s world this process is too slow, especially considering the involvement of young students.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve just spoken to Christopher Coblyn and Arturo Forrest at the school to apologize again on behalf of the MFA. I have requested an opportunity to meet with students at the school next week,\u201d said Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director. \u201cThese young people left the Museum feeling disrespected, harassed and targeted because of the color of their skin, and that is unacceptable. This is a fundamental problem that we will address as an institution, both with immediate steps and long-term commitments. I am deeply saddened that we\u2019ve taken something away from these students that they will never get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to releasing the details surrounding the four specific racist incidents that were reported, the MFA is committing to taking action steps that address them. This includes serving no-trespass, cease-and-desist letters to two visitors who used offensive and inappropriate language when they came into contact with the students, changing protocols and procedures for frontline staff and guards, articulating our expectations for visitor, staff and volunteer behavior, and enhancing ongoing training for all staff and volunteers. The MFA welcomes 60,000 schoolchildren annually who represent future audiences of the Museum, and is dedicated to ensuring that they feel protected and safe.<\/p>\n

The MFA investigation focused on four racist incidents that were reported to a team of senior MFA managers on the afternoon of Thursday, May 16:<\/p>\n

\u2022 The MFA has determined that Museum visitors made racist comments to DLA students on two separate occasions. We have identified the patrons who made the disparaging remarks and revoked their membership, banning them from the Museum\u2019s grounds. We will serve them with a no-trespass cease-and-desist notification.
\n\u2022 The school group reported that when the students arrived at the Museum, they were told \u201cno food, no drink, no watermelon.\u201d The employee who greeted the group recalled relaying as part of standard operating procedures that \u201cno food, no drink and no water bottles\u201d were allowed in the galleries. There is no way to definitively confirm or deny what was said or heard in the galleries. Regardless, the MFA is committed to providing additional training for all frontline staff on how to engage with incoming school groups about policies and guidelines. These guidelines are in place to ensure the comfort and safety of all visitors and staff, as well as the protection of objects in our care.
\n\u2022 The students visited a number of galleries and special exhibitions during their trip. These spaces were patrolled by 13 separate security guards who were all stationed in designated areas. During this time, guards went on and off break and occasionally overlapped as they moved from one area or another. Based on surveillance footage, it is understandable that, because of this movement, the students felt followed. That was not our intention. It is unacceptable that they felt racially profiled, targeted and harassed. In response, the MFA is taking a number of steps to adapt security procedures\u2014specifically designed to make sure that all people feel welcome, safe and respected at the Museum. This includes additional training for guards in how they engage with visitors inside and outside the Museum, as well as reviewing how guards are instructed to patrol the galleries.<\/p>\n

The Museum is working with outside experts on continued mandatory unconscious bias training, conflict resolution training, and sexual harassment training for all staff. In addition, the Museum is reviewing all visitor touchpoints to ensure that every visitor\u2019s experience from entry to exit is positive and welcoming. Internally, the Museum was already in the process of launching an independent employee engagement survey to solicit confidential feedback about our workplace. Externally, the MFA will continue to develop roundtables of outside groups, which have been gathered in recent months to advise on exhibitions and programming.<\/p>\n

MFA staff will dedicate itself to this work over the coming, weeks, months and years, knowing that there will always be room to improve protocols and procedures to better reflect the Museum\u2019s institutional values of inclusion, care and shared accountability. The MFA works in service to visitors and will continue to regularly assess how to improve their experience by anticipating and responding to their needs.<\/p>\n

\n

Friday, May 24, 2019:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Statement from\u00a0MFA Director Matthew Teitelbaum:<\/h3>\n

Dear MFA Community,<\/p>\n

I want to update you on our efforts to address the events of the past week and to affirm that there is work ongoing and work we need to do. All of us are committed to making everyone feel welcome at the MFA. This work includes, but is not limited to, actions we have already taken: a Strategic Plan that encourages us to be an outward-facing institution; the creation of the position of Chief of Learning and Community Engagement; unconscious bias training for staff and board; continuous review of our visitor welcome at our entrances; round tables with teachers and students to address Opportunities for Inclusion and Racial Diversity; and working with our community to represent their voices in exhibitions and programs. We are addressing at every level and with every tool we have.<\/p>\n

Please review a more detailed statement here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Our community is a strong one, and one that needs to dedicate ourselves to doing better, both reaching out and looking within. This is not something simply remedied\u2014though immediate concerns must and will be addressed\u2014but we are dedicated to the MFA and to the people of Boston.<\/p>\n

Matthew Teitelbaum
\nAnn and Graham Gund Director<\/p>\n

\n
\"May<\/a>
May 31, 2019, statement from Museum of Fine Arts Director Matthew Teitelbaum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friday, May 31, 2019:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Statement from\u00a0MFA Director Matthew Teitelbaum:<\/h3>\n

Dear MFA Community,<\/p>\n

Throughout the past week, the MFA has implemented some immediate action steps in response to the recent incidents involving students from the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy. We are actively examining our visitor services protocols, have added staffing, revised our welcome messaging, and are expanding training. We understand that our work is far from done and that we have a long way to go.<\/p>\n

We at the MFA believe that art can bridge differences and celebrate commonalities. We are committed to being an institution of inclusion, reciprocity and accountability. We know that you expect better of us, and we do as well.<\/p>\n

We have created this space to give you more detailed updates and to communicate with us.<\/p>\n

Please access detailed updates here.<\/a><\/p>\n

With appreciation,<\/p>\n

Matthew Teitelbaum
\nAnn and Graham Gund Director<\/p>\n

\n
\"Museum<\/a>
Museum of Fine Arts’ “Toward A More Inclusive MFA” webpage, May 31, 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friday, May 24, 2019:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Toward a More Inclusive MFA”<\/a> webpage<\/h3>\n

In response to feedback from the MFA and Boston community, we have created this space about our ongoing work toward inclusion in the immediate and long-term future. This is our living, breathing record of our work together. We hear you, and we want you to hold us accountable for what we\u2019ve promised.<\/p>\n

Contact\/Feedback<\/strong><\/p>\n

We invite you to continue to hold our institution accountable and welcome you to share your questions, concerns, and suggestions by e-mailing feedback@mfa.org.<\/p>\n

Our commitment to being a safe space for all extends to our communications. Please note that any e-mails containing expletives or abusive language will be deleted.<\/p>\n

To be notified of updates by e-mail, please subscribe to MFA Mail and indicate the interest \u201cInclusion Updates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davis Leadership Academy Visit<\/strong><\/p>\n

A group of 26 middle-school students with chaperones from the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy visited the MFA on May 16, 2019. They were on a self-guided visit. Before leaving the Museum, the group filed a complaint with Member and Visitor Services that they were met with racism and verbal abuse from visitors and staff during the visit.<\/p>\n

Upon learning of the class\u2019s experience, we immediately contacted school officials to apologize. At the same time, we began conducting a thorough investigation to review what happened and determine consequences. You can read the report here.<\/p>\n

Our Promise<\/strong><\/p>\n

When we launched our Strategic Plan, MFA 2020 in 2017, we focused on new audiences and our invitation, welcome and engagement. New initiatives\u2014like MFA Late Nites and City Talks\u2014activated those ideas while also building upon the long-standing community and educational programs that have been the focus of our work for decades. In this moment, in today\u2019s Boston, we have heard from our young visitors that we have let them down on the fulfillment of our key promises: a bold invitation, a warm welcome, and deep engagement.<\/p>\n

We believe that to create a truly inviting and welcoming museum we must be empathetic to visitors\u2019 experiences and understand what they bring to the institution. Everyone at the MFA wants the Museum to belong to all of Boston. We know that we have work to do to achieve that goal, and we are committed to doing so.<\/p>\n

We will continue to address these fundamental issues as an institution, both with immediate steps and long-term commitments.<\/p>\n

Immediate Next Steps: May 31, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 In response to the specific harassment of the Davis Leadership Academy group on May 16, we have taken immediate action by barring two visitors from the Museum.
\nWe have added staff to the school groups entrance to improve our welcome and changed our orientation greeting.
\n\u2022 We are increasing staffing in the galleries by adding visitor services positions and increasing hours for existing representatives. These staff members will be able to assist visitors throughout their visit and respond to any incidents while the guards continue their security function.
\n\u2022 We are in active conversations this week with our local government officials about race and Boston\u2019s cultural institutions.
\n\u2022 We\u2019ve been in regular contact with the staff at the Davis Leadership Academy and have another meeting scheduled with them on Monday. We have regularly requested another meeting with the students and are respecting their lead on the timing.<\/p>\n

Long-Term Commitments<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 With the help of outside experts, we are expediting and evolving our ongoing mandatory training program for all staff.
\n\u2022 In early May, we announced seven sessions of unconscious bias training that will take place throughout June and July. The Leadership Team and Board members on the Governance & Nominating and Executive Committees completed this training in January.
\n\u2022 Also in early May, we announced that two sessions on conflict resolution will take place in June. The workshop will allow staff participants to develop skills for resolving various conflicts that come up in the workplace.
\n\u2022 We are reviewing all visitor touchpoints to improve every visitor\u2019s experience, from entry to exit.
\n\u2022 Externally, our department of Learning and Community Engagement, headed by Makeeba McCreary, has organized a series of roundtables on inclusion and racial diversity at the MFA. The first one took place in May, with academic administrators, faculty and students. Upcoming sessions will engage artists of color; K-12 school leaders, administrators and teachers; non-profit and community partners; and professionals in creative industries.
\n\u2022 The Museum is committed to City Talks, a series launched in 2016 to engage leading Boston-area thinkers, institutions, entrepreneurs, activists, and artists in free public forums on prevalent themes within current exhibitions that impact our community culturally, socially, and politically. Recent panels have discussed representation, opioids, monuments, bodies and expression, and narratives of resistance.
\n\u2022 We will continue to be intentional in recruitment processes that build and support a diverse complement of staff, volunteers and governance, to reflect and best serve the City of Boston and the values of our Museum.<\/p>\n

Contact\/Feedback<\/strong><\/p>\n

We invite you to continue to hold our institution accountable and welcome you to share your questions, concerns, and suggestions by e-mailing feedback@mfa.org.<\/p>\n

Our commitment to being a safe space for all extends to our communications. Please note that any e-mails containing expletives or abusive language will be deleted.<\/p>\n

To be notified of updates by e-mail, please subscribe to MFA Mail and indicate the interest \u201cInclusion Updates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And sign up for our free, weekly newsletter<\/a> so that you don’t miss any of our reporting.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Updated with May 31, 2019, statements from MFA. Boston\u2019s Museum of Fine Arts says it has banned two visitors for making racist comments to seventh graders from Boston\u2019s Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy during a school tour of the museum on May 16. The museum says it will also offer training to its staff in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12022,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,114],"tags":[37,216,87],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12016"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12016"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12193,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12016\/revisions\/12193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}