Mike Murawski, Director of Education & Public Programs for the Portland Art Museum, and Founding Editor of ArtMuseumTeaching.com gave this presentation at MuseumNext New York on 15 November 2016. In it Mike asked how we can start an empathy revolution in museums? How can we more fiercely recognize the meaningful work that museum professionals are doing to enact change around the relevant issues in our communities? How do we radically expand the work of museums in bringing people together and contributing to strong, resilient communities? Questions like these seem increasingly vital for museums, especially in this time of polarized political discourse and highly-charged social debates.

1. “Silence is our enemy”
“It’s important that we see
each other as human beings.
We need to take care
of each other.”
Audio: Janelle Monae, “Hell You Talmbout”

2. Urgency of Empathy and Social Action
in Museums
Mike Murawski
Director of Education & Public Programs
Portland Art Museum (Oregon)

3. BE MORE LOCAL

5. RECOGNIZE & SUPPORT
the Movement for Black Lives

7. Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter at the New Museum (photo by Madeleine Hunt Ehrlich)

8. Mirror Casket project, De Andrea Nichols, Marcis Curtis, Sophie Lipman, Damon Davis, Elizabeth Vega, Derek Laney, Mallory Nezam

9. Portland Art Museum
August 9, 2016

12. Portland Art Museum
August 15, 2016

13. FLIPPING THE SCRIPT

17. Portland Art Museum
Object Stories

18. Detroit Institute of Arts
“1967 Detroit Home Movies”

19. CREATE A PERSONAL
VISION

21. “not everything that is
faced can be changed, but
nothing can be changed
until it is faced.”
- James Baldwin

22. BUILD COMMUNITIES OF ACTION

25. questions
discussion
listening
BE MORE LOCAL
RECOGNIZE & SUPPORT MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT
CREATE A PERSONAL VISION FOR CHANGE
BUILD COMMUNITIES OF ACTION