Giving Compass' Take:

• Nonprofit Quarterly reports on efforts by the Cleveland Museum of Art to institute more diversity into its organization through its exhibitions, audience, infrastructure and other areas.

• What can other museums and purveyors of the arts learn from Cleveland's example? What are the measurements that will be used to make sure that such initiatives are successful?

• Read more about the funder collaboration promoting diversity in art museum leadership.

Issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion are not new to the art museum world. NPQ has reported extensively on the underrepresentation of people of color and the prevalence of white men in museum leadership. (Examples of that coverage can be found here, here, and here.) So, it was of no surprise to the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) when it was presented with similar numbers. Despite more than 66 percent of Cleveland’s population identifying as people of color, they constituted only 24 percent of the museum’s 600,000 annual visitors.

As CMA began outlining its vision for the future, the organization realized that simply providing free admission was not enough. If progress was to be achieved, a more intentional, strategic process to truly engage traditionally underserved communities would be needed. The result was “For The Benefit Of All: The CMA’s Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Plan.”

The 19-page report coincides with the museum’s strategic plan and was informed by a multitude of community stakeholders. Over a nine-month period in 2017, the CMA facilitated over 100 meetings with more than 400 people throughout Cleveland. Through the process, the organization prompted people to share their perspectives on diversity and inclusion, ways to maintain relevancy and financial viability, and steps that should be taken in order to be successful.

Read the full article about Cleveland Museum of Art's inclusivity by Chelsea Dennis at nonprofitquarterly.org.