MAAM 2026 Annual Conference

Launched in 2020, Smithsonian’s Reckoning with Our Racial Past initiative weaves together collections, interdisciplinary research, and convening power to explore the enduring legacies of race and racism. Since then, the museum field—and the broader public landscape—has significantly shifted.

Today, we are embarking on a regional wide effort to hear from colleagues on what comes next. We want to hear from you to understand how museums are navigating racial equity today—what’s working, what’s challenging, and what kinds of support are most needed. Insights gathered here will help shape future resources, convenings, and evaluation approaches grounded in the realities of the field. Your perspectives will play a critical role in shaping the next chapter of this work.


Session Takeaways:
•Listen and reflect on the core throughlines: challenges and opportunities, from dialogue to action, and measuring impact
•Hear and share examples of how the work has not stopped- it has shifted. Hear strategies and/or opportunities other museums have undertaken to continue their work on racial equity
•Participate in shaping the initiative’s next steps on possible workshops, convenings, or educational resources.