Youth-Driven Transformation of Museums: Reactions to a Multimodal Exhibit Designed by Latina/x Middle School Girls

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session Six
  In Roundtable Session: Learner-Driven Experiences in Informal Learning Environments (Table 2)

Abstract

Museums have historically excluded self-representation of marginalized cultures, instead presenting objects, artifacts, and artworks from white-dominated, colonial lenses. Latino/a/x communities, including youth, are one such group facing a lack of authentic representation in mainstream museums. In response, we began a multi-year project that aims to transform a university art museum by introducing youth-designed exhibits. This paper reports on visitors’ reactions to the pilot exhibit of the project, with largely positive sentiments. We interpret these reactions as a successful intervention that created space for marginalized voices, including community members, in the museum.

Authors

• McKenna Lane, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Presenting Author

• Catherine L. Dornfeld Tissenbaum, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Presenting Author

• Idalia Nunez, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Non-Presenting Author

• Monica Gonzalez Ybarra, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Non-Presenting Author