Policy on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Wichita Art Museum (WAM) has made a strong and enduring commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as part of its mission to "touch lives through art." The museum recognizes that encounters with art can be transformative, and it aims to create a welcoming and accessible experience for all visitors.
Inclusive Efforts and Community Engagement
WAM's efforts to ensure inclusion permeate its policies, leadership, hiring, partnerships, and programs. The museum has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of its history, acknowledging that its founders and early leaders were predominantly white and affluent, which resulted in a lack of representation from minority communities in Wichita. To address this, WAM has engaged in community outreach, solicited feedback, and conducted listening sessions to better understand the perceptions and needs of underrepresented groups.
The museum has implemented several initiatives to foster DEI, including:
- Offering free admission on Saturdays and hosting large, free community events to remove economic barriers to access
- Developing partnerships with diverse community organizations and youth-serving groups to reach new audiences
- Committing to increasing the representation of women, LGBTQ, and artists of color in its permanent collection and exhibitions
- Implementing inclusive hiring practices, providing DEI training for all staff and volunteers, and incorporating DEI values into performance evaluations
- Encouraging vendor and supplier relationships with minority-owned and women-owned businesses
Ongoing DEI Work
WAM's DEI work is an ongoing, systemic, and never-ending process. The museum recognizes that there may be missteps along the way, but it is fully committed to the hard work of improving the sense of belonging for all who engage with the museum. A diverse, equity-focused, and inclusive board, staff, and volunteer base is crucial to this effort.
Living DEI Policy
The Wichita Art Museum's DEI policy serves as a living document, subject to periodic review and revision to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in creating a more welcoming and accessible institution for the entire Wichita community.
