Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Resources

Diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in all aspects of museum structure and programming are vital to the future viability, relevance, and sustainability of museums. In an effort to provide the broadest possible access to this critical topic, we are making articles from the January/February 2021 issue of Museum magazine, free and available to the public.

We’ve gathered a number of toolkits, guides, tactics and other reference materials to help you and your organization understand, plan for, and support diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives.

If you are an individual member of the Alliance, you can join the Diversity Committee, an AAM Professional Network.

Also, AAM’s Facing Change: Advancing Museum Board Diversity & Inclusion initiative, provides training, support, and resources to help museum leadership become more representative of the communities they serve.

Or, download the Excellence in DEAI Report, which is intended to be a starting point for spurring conversation and action that advances excellence in DEAI in the museum field.

Collections Stewardship

Here you’ll find information related to acquisition and accessioning, and historic preservation and accessibility.

• Acquisition and Accessioning
• Historic Preservation and Accessibility

Education & Interpretation

Here you’ll find information on accessibility in programs and exhibits, inclusive and equitable practices for audience research, exhibit planning and design, learning in museums and public programs.

• Accessibility
• Audience Research
• Exhibit Planning and Design
• Learning in Museums
• Public Programs

Facilities & Risk Management

Here you’ll find information on the physical accessibility of museum buildings and grounds.

• Accessibility

Governance & Support Organizations

Here you’ll find information on board diversity and equity, and field-wide standards for diversity and inclusion.

• Board Diversity
• Standards

Human Resources

Here you’ll find information on hiring and engaging a diverse staff and how to be equitable across the board.

• Staff Diversity

Mission & Institutional Planning

Here you’ll find information on inclusive practices for community engagement, how to think broadly about inclusion and equity when planning for the institution, how to interact with visitors of all abilities, and website accessibility.

• Community Engagement
• Institutional Planning
• Visitor Services
• Website Accessibility

Public Trust and Accountability

Here you’ll find information on overall themes of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion as it relates to a museum’s public trust role.

• Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion