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Museums Moving Forward

@museumsmovingforward

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Data. Discourse. Empowerment. We are dedicated to creating a more just museum sector by improving the working conditions and lives of culture workers.

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We believe art museum workers should not have to choose between working in service to a mission and being able to afford basic living expenses. ⁠They should be able to do both, ⁠with dignity and respect.⁠
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MMF’s 2025 Report on Workplace Equity and Organizational Culture in US Art Museums will be released tomorrow at museumsmovingforward.com⁠

Tap the link in bio to join us on Zoom for two public presentations where we will share key takeaways from the report and data-driven recommendations for moving art museums forward.

🗓️ Wednesday, October 29
🕐 11 am PT / 2 pm ET

🗓️ Thursday, October 30
🕐 8 am PT / 11 am ET
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#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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a year ago

Today we are proud to release MMF’s 2025 Report on Workplace Equity and Organizational Culture in US Art Museums, including the voices of 3,100 staff respondents from 91 museums.

In the two years since our last report, the art museum sector has faced a new dimension of pressure and strain amid broader political and cultural turmoil.

“MMF’s goal is to provide data that reflects the realities of museum workers and to offer recommendations based on this data to support museum leaders in building a healthier, more sustainable sector for all.”—@mia.locks, Executive Director, Museums Moving Forward

Comment "forward" below for a copy of the report sent to your DMs, or visit museumsmovingforward.com

#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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a year ago

Is it getting better to work in museums?

The New York Times digs into MMFs new 196-page report on Workplace Equity and Organizational Culture in US Art Museums, out today:

“While museum employees are feeling better about their workplaces, as compared with the earlier study, satisfaction in some areas is still below the national averages of some other surveys. While the percentage of employees who were considering quitting their jobs fell 14 percentage points, it is still about 2 percent higher than what a recent Gallup poll suggested was a national average of 52 percent.”—@zacharyhsmall

Link in bio to read the full story. by @museumsmovingforward

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a year ago

⭐ We are proud to be partnering with 116 museums (and counting) across the US on MMF's 2026-27 Data Study & Report, Workplace Equity and Organizational Culture in US Art Museums.

⏳ It's not too late to join this national research initiative! See LINK IN BIO to register now. Surveys will be live from October 15 - December 15, 2026.

🔍 We are looking to add more museums in the New England and Mountain Plains regions, in particular, as well as museums in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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2 days ago

👏 We are pleased to announce the list of PARTNER MUSEUMS for MMF's 2026-27 Data Study & Report. The current list includes 113 museums from across 37 states and Puerto Rico.

🙏 Thanks to these institutions, MMF's research will continue to grow and better represent the diversity of the art museum sector. Together, we will measure and make changes toward improved workplace equity and organizational culture in US art museums.

⭐ And good news: it’s not too late to join as a Partner Museum! See link in bio to register now, or contact us with questions at info@museumsmovingforward.com.

#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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5 days ago

📣 REMINDER: MMF's 2026 Data Study launches on October 15th, and it's not too late to join this field-wide research initiative!

🔗 LINK IN BIO TO REGISTER

🆓 PATRICIPATION IS FREE thanks to the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, Teiger Foundation, and MMF’s Vision Council.

➡️ Museum leaders: This is your opportunity to support the field by participating as a Partner Museum in the penultimate cycle of MMF's signature study. We have multiple levels of engagement to choose from based on your museum's needs. Please join so that your organization can be included in this critical research, ensuring representation of the diversity of art museums across the sector.

➡️ Museum staff: You, too, can support the field by participating in the penultimate cycle of MMF's signature study, even if your museum is not a Partner Museum. Please join so that your voice can be included in this critical research, ensuring representation of the diversity of workers across the art museum sector.

⚙️ We plan to do one more cycle of this study in 2028.

#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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6 days ago

Almost a quarter (23%) of former art museum workers would unequivocally return to the field. Most (63%) would only return under special circumstances. What do they need? A better-paying position, genuine investment in DEAI efforts, values-aligned leadership, and more.

Read the full report on our website. Link in bio.

#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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17 days ago

Many workers stayed in the arts or other nonprofits, but found better working conditions outside of the art museums, even though there were some downsides.

💸64% earn more money
🏠73% have more flexibility
🌷55% have more opportunities for growth

Read more in the full report. Link in bio. #museumsmovingforward. by @museumsmovingforward

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19 days ago

Join us on September 23rd for a virtual conversation about MMF’s latest report on Former Art Museum Workers and what we can collectively learn together as a field. We will share an overview of the key findings and other data as it relates to moving the field forward. Presentation followed by Q&A. Registration required (link in bio). by @museumsmovingforward

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20 days ago

The data from our Former Art Museum Workers study reveals that the workers who tried hardest to change their museums (through DEAI committees and unions) are among the most disillusioned by the field. We have noticed a parallel trend in (mostly women) museum directors departing the field after attempting to enact change… 👀 Why are museums are pushing out those most dedicated to change—at a time when they need to change and evolve more than ever? This means the field will continue to be plagued by the same inequities. What kind of field do we want to be?

Check out the full report on our website or see link in bio. #museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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22 days ago

The top 4️⃣ reasons art museum workers left the field align with the data from MMF's 2025 Report on why the current workforce is considering leaving. But there is one notable exception: topping the list is poor management, which 85% of respondents cited as the reason they left the field.

1️⃣ poor management
2️⃣ lack of growth opportunities
3️⃣ burnout
4️⃣ low pay

Read the full report on our website or at the link in bio.

#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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23 days ago

While 72% of respondents left the field “voluntarily,” this statistic does not fully capture the complex circumstances many were facing at the time of their departures. Read the full report for more! See link in bio.
#museumsmovingforward by @museumsmovingforward

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24 days ago