Black Curators Matter : Conversations on Art and Change

This book chronicles the transformative impact of Black Curators on American art museums since the 1970s as told by visionaries at the forefront of the change.

In the late 1960s, the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition and other groups organised protests at major art museums, calling for the inclusion of Black artists and curators. Such advocacy led to acquisitions and exhibitions by Black artists at important institutions and spurred the establishment of museums and cultural organisations promoting Black art and culture. Today, Black curators hold significant positions at institutions nationwide. Black Curators Matter illuminates this critical history by spotlighting figures who have transformed the art world since the 1970s. This book presents illuminating conversations between six pioneering curators and a new generation of professionals. These discussions highlight the achievements of Black curators and provide guidance for future generations. This volume reexamines the curatorial field to reveal the transformative strategies, critical interventions, and boundary-breaking exhibitions that reshaped American art museums toward greater inclusivity and experimentation.