Unpacking Identity: Museums, Race, and Education

Join NYCMER’s advocacy committee for an afternoon focused on unpacking race and identity, facilitated by Keonna Hendrick and Marit Dewhurst. This program is open to anyone interested in the personal work of self-reflection with regard to race and identity. We will collectively engage in a workshop surrounding critical inward focus, our respective and diverse spheres of influence, and concrete actions to engage with moving forward. In the studio and galleries of the Brooklyn Museum, the afternoon will be an intensive experience including dialogue, break out groups, and object based learning. All are welcome, including folks in advanced and beginning stages of doing this work.

“Silence, in the face of racism and injustice, is complicity. While some may want to believe that museums are neutral spaces, they are far from that. It is our responsibility—as educators committed to creating more just and equitable societies—to understand how our daily practices might actually enable White supremacist (and heteronormative, patriarchal) thinking. And while the work that must be done can feel overwhelming at times, we just cannot be afraid to start.”

• Dewhurst, M. & K. Hendrick. (2016) “Dismantling Racism in Museum Education.” Journal of Folklore and Education, (3). 25–30.

Keonna Hendrick is the recipient of the 2019 National Art Education Association’s National Museum Education Art Educator Award, Hendrick is recognized as a leading voice in the fields of museum education and art education. She currently serves as School Programs Manager at the Brooklyn Museum, where she leads a department of skilled and empathetic educators in facilitating experiences that invite learners to expand their understanding of themselves and the world.

Marit Dewhurst is the Director of Art Education and Associate Professor of Art and Museum Education at The City College of New York. Prior to joining the faculty at CCNY, she directed The Museum of Modern Art’s free studio art programs for teens. She co-founded the Museum Teen Summit to promote youth participation and access in museums. She is the author of Social Justice Art: A Framework for Activist Art Pedagogy and Teachers Bridging Difference: Exploring Identity Through Art.

Accessibility:
NYCMER is committed to providing opportunities for all of our members to participate in our programs and engage with one another. The building and grounds, including parking, are wheelchair accessible. Should you require any accessibility services (ASL interpretation, ALD, etc.), please contact info@nycmer.org as soon as possible.

The nearest wheelchair-accessible subway stations are the S at Park Place station (.5 mi) and the B, Q, S at Prospect Park station (.8 mi). Wheelchairs are available for free at our Coat Check.

Stay Connected!
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Happy Hour!
Continue the conversation at Sunshine & Co’s happy hour which runs until 7pm 
($4 beer; $3 wine); wheelchair accessible
780 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238