Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Action Plan - Update June 2022

January 2022-June 2022

Goal 1

Expand the reach of our youth programs such as Museum Explorer for K-5 students, and ArtNow, our annual juried high school art exhibition, to ensure equitable opportunities for participation throughout Santa Clara County.

Progress Towards
• We reached out to our existing teacher network with a survey requesting feedback on barriers to participation in Museum Explorer and ArtNow. Their feedback has resulted in an extended run time for the ArtNow exhibition in 2023, so that more students, teachers, and families have access to it.
• Our Teen Council is creating an ArtNow Toolkit which will help teachers new to the ArtNow program more easily integrate the program into their classrooms.

Goal 2

Co-create art and history exhibitions with a wide array of diverse community input (such as paid artists, guest curators, and artists in residence), ensuring democratization of the NUMU institutional voice. Ensure a more balanced representation of underrecognized histories, BIPOC, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and women in our exhibitions.

Progress Towards
• We are in the early planning stages for a LGTBQ+ lecture series/seminar for summer 2023 about the artistic and historic legacy of Frank Ingerson and George Dennison, a queer artist couple who lived in Los Gatos from the early 1900s until the 1960s.
• Our Curatorial Committee is finalizing an Exhibition Vision and Artist in Residence call for entries that centers our DEAI values.

Goal 3

Update our website, programs, and physical space to be more accessible and reduce barriers to engagement. This includes keeping paid programs and ticket prices reasonable to help broaden access.

Progress Towards
• We updated our website and social media, utilizing higher contrast and alt text for low vision viewers.
• We investigated Spanish translation services for our highest-visibility exhibition, ArtNow, and will translate key exhibition text for ArtNow 2023.
• We integrated questions about our museum's accessibility into our visitor surveys.

Goal 4

Provide a work culture that attracts diverse talent and is equitable and sustainable by offering benefits and livable salaries, as well as reasonable work hours and paid time off. Remove harmful and/or exclusive practices and policies by Interrogating our internal staff work practices.

Progress Towards
• We reviewed the NUMU staff handbook, adding sections for salary ranges; PTO and sick time policy; and virtual work policy. We are including language about culturally significant days off.
• We launched a formal paid internship program, the Collections Internship, funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Goal 5

Reduce barriers to board membership by being genuinely flexible with board dues and nurturing an atmosphere of inclusion for members of all backgrounds, ages, and careers. Make intentional efforts to recruit board members of diverse backgrounds to reflect the diversity of the entire Bay Area. Remove harmful and/ or exclusive practices and policies by Interrogating our internal board practices, and updating our board bylaws.

Progress Towards
• Met with nonprofit colleagues to get feedback on fostering an atmosphere of inclusion for board members.
• The Board Chair and Executive Director are meeting with each Board Member individually in fall 2022. During these meetings, we gather feedback about the board onboarding process and are changing our meeting format accordingly

Goal 6

Create a safe space for the Los Gatos community and the wider Bay Area to learn about equity, inclusion, and antiracism through arts and history exhibitions and programs.

Progress Towards
• NUMU leadership participated in the Town of Los Gatos' Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Discovery Report.
• In September 2022, NUMU engaged representatives from the Los Gatos Antiracism Coalition to determine next steps for promoting the equity conversation in Los Gatos. We are discussing collaboration on public panel discussions, United Against Hate Week, and exhibits to continue this work together.

Questions?
Email: visit@numulosgatos.org

Equity Plan Statement

New Museum Los Gatos | NUMU was founded in 1965 as a public non-profit art and history museum. NUMU’s mission is to engage the community at the intersection of art, history and education through innovative, locally connected and globally relevant exhibitions, programs and experiences. NUMU’s vision is to offer equal and equitable representation, opportunities and services to all stakeholders through our operations, exhibitions, public programs, and permanent collection. NUMU is committed to antiracism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and access because it is vital for a community institution to actively support underrepresented groups through art, design and creativity.

We specifically commit NUMU to expanding access for all, including BIPOC, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and women content creators and audiences.

Guiding Principle: Intentionally cultivating and sustaining a comprehensive museum experience and community rooted in diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.

Banner Image Description (Top of Page)

BAILEY FU
Bleeding America
ArtNow 2021: Good Trouble
2nd Place Mixed Media | Grade 12 | Los Altos High School

America’s history regarding slavery is unarguably atrocious and gruesome. However, over the years, people have come to repress the true violence of the practice, whether through denial or white-washing of history. In the end, the most difficult barrier, especially when a person is raised thinking a certain way, is changing one’s own perspective and acknowledging the truth about our country’s history.