Courtesy Stevie Reynolds
The Cardiss Collins Project
March 25-May 18, 2013
1338 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60607
In 1990, a Congressional hearing was held on the “Employment Trends and Practices of Cultural Institutions Receiving Federal Funds”. During this hearing, Congresswoman Cardiss Collins called on leaders from seven of Chicago’s Museums to offer “recommendations and initiatives to address the problem of recruitment, retention, and advancement of minorities within their institutions.” The museum representatives present at the hearing testified that they would improve the representation of “minorities” in senior level positions.
The UIC Museum and Exhibition Studies program (MUSE), along with the support of the UIC Social Justice Initiative, present “The Cardiss Collins Project”, the purpose of which is to explore the changes (if any) that have taken place in the hiring practices of Chicago cultural institutions since Ms. Collins inquest. Our team contacted each of the museums that participated in the 1990 hearing to repose the question Cardiss Collins asked them over 20 years ago: “How many people of color are represented in senior level positions at your museum today?”
“The Cardiss Collins Project”, will be shown in a pop-up gallery at 1338 South Halsted Street Chicago, IL 60607 beginning March 25, 2013 and will be on display until May 18, 2013. Additional information on the social justice efforts of Cardiss Collins as well as more information on minorities in museums then and now will also be shown.
