The Smithsonian will provide a forum for a discussion about “culturally specific” or “ethnic” museums Wednesday, April 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The daylong event will be held at the National Museum of the American Indian at Fourth and Independence Avenue SW, in the museum’s Rasmuson Theater.
“(Re)Presenting America: The Evolution of Culturally Specific Museums” will address a debate that was reignited in May 2011 when a federal commission recommended establishing a Smithsonian museum dedicated to American Latinos. Critics of “ethnic” museums argue that museums dedicated to the experiences or cultures of specific communities are divisive, while supporters insist that such museums enrich the national narrative and offer more depth and perspective into what it means to be an American.
To advance this conversation, this symposium brings together museum directors and scholars from across the Smithsonian.
The symposium will be webcast live at www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/multimedia/webcasts. To join the conversation, follow the museum’s Twitter feed, @SmithsonianNMAI, and use the hashtag #CulturalMuseums. For more information on the symposium, visit http://nmai.si.edu/connect/symposia/