AAMC FOUNDATION PUBLISHES BEST PRACTICES GUIDE FOR CONDUCTING ARTIST IDENTITY SURVEYS

 AAMC FOUNDATION PUBLISHES BEST PRACTICES GUIDE FOR CONDUCTING ARTIST IDENTITY SURVEYS

Free Guide Provides Detailed Insight into How Art Organizations Can Develop Inclusive Processes in Collecting Artist Demographic Information

April 20, 2023, New York, NY–   The AAMC Foundation has released the Best Practices in Artist Demographic Data Coordination, the first resource of its kind for art organizations providing a detailed overview of how to prepare for and execute an artist demographic and identity survey in a manner that is inclusive and fair, and that forefronts the voice of the artist.  

"As art organizations move forward with the goal of being more inclusive, they must better understand who is being collected and exhibited. Coordinating artists’ demographic data is a necessary step in this endeavor, but it is sensitive and complex work,” noted Michelle Jacques, Head of Exhibitions and Collections/Chief Curator, Remai Modern; President, Board of Trustees, AAMC and AAMC Foundation (2023 - 2025), “Developed in coordination with experts from the field,  the AAMC Foundation’s overview of best practices for gathering and analyzing information on artist identities provides a seminal guide for these processes."

Galvanized by the growing recognition that a re-assessment of the art and artists being collected and exhibited by organizations needs to be undertaken, the Best Practices Guide for Artist Demographic Data Coordination was developed by AAMC Foundation to serve as a foundational resource and advocacy tool for the industry.  Placing ethical and inclusive work as a primary factor, the publication offers readers a thoughtful and candid examination of the process.  

“For AAMC & AAMC Foundation, ethical and inclusive best practices are cornerstones of our mission, as evident through our programs, publications, and outreach,” added Judith Pineiro, Executive Director, AAMC & AAMC Foundation, and writer and lead on the Guide. “This publication presents ways forward that are relevant beyond the curatorial field and helpful and impactful for all visual-art spaces.”

The Guide builds upon previous handbooks and pledges developed by AAMC Foundation, such as its Call to Curators: DEAI Practices: Collections and Exhibitions, Code of Conduct for Curators, and Professional Practices for Art Curators in Nonprofits.  Collaborating with over 30 writers and readers from the visual art realm, supported by the Mellon Foundation, the in-depth document provides information throughout every phase of a demographic survey, including getting started; creating and implementing a questionnaire; data management and maintenance; case studies; and a sample questionnaire.   The document is available to download here.

The AAMC Foundation is grateful to the Mellon Foundation for its support of this project.

ABOUT AAMC & AAMC FOUNDATION 
The Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) & AAMC Foundation supports, values, and advances the work of nonprofit art curators at all stages of their careers through leadership and connectivity. The organization’s work is grounded on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging (DEIAB) and seeks to recognize the full breadth of a person’s lived experience, self-identification (gender, ethnic, racial, and ability), and socio-economic background. We are a compelling leader and resource for those who care about the role of curators as agents of change, social impact, and multicultural understanding. Founded in 2001, the Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) today has over 1,500 members from over 500+ institutions in over 40 countries. 

CONTACT

Judith Pineiro, Executive Director, judith.pineiro@artcurators.org

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