The MET Supporting DEI Against The Trump Administration

The recent turmoil of protesting against the Trump administration and established regulations against academic freedom, freedom of speech, and diversity politics, leading by Harvard University, which stands strong so far against the government’s threats to cut federal funding, has had a strong impact on multiple cultural and academic organizations and institutions around the U.S., including private and public art institutions. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) have all experienced massive budget cuts that are making these organizations on the edge of closing. Though there are no published data regarding how his policies have impacted the private sections of the art industry, one can only imagine the hardship of many galleries and organizations as the artistic ecosystem has been damaged when funding is cut. 

During an interview with the Met (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) director Max Hollein, the issue regarding these policies, especially the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, was also raised. The response was assuring that the Met will not be impacted by the recent push to eliminate DEI programs. The DEI, despite many of its controversies politically, is a necessity to the art institutions even when we are just looking at it through a fine art perspective. If part of what contemporary art about is representations and narratives, then DEI definitely helps to expand the canon of the art industry by incorporating diverse voices, and also makes it interesting so we develop art history forward. The changes of different political administrations and ideologies will not change the foundational purposes of contemporary art. When the Met insists on its DEI policies, it is not only persisting its political ground, but also keeps art history on the positive path. 

When asked about whether the finances will be affected, Max Hollein said that the Met “avoid being dependent on a single source of funding” and their job as one of the biggest art institutions in the U.S. is to “unite” different groups of sponsors that share the Met’s vision and keep the industry going. He also mentioned specifically about the location of New York, where “philanthropy is very strong”, making this financial model possible. In a way emphasizing the idea of art as communities is as important and strong as ever. It feels reassuring as an individual artist that the institution is on our side and supporting the diversity that we achieved, and also reminds us of the purpose of contemporary art, when it started in the mid-20th century, as political protesting. Read more here.