it’s wonderful to be here at the Courtauld Institute of Art where as
Courtauld Institute of Art where as
Courtauld Institute of Art where as you’ve just heard I studied for my
you’ve just heard I studied for my
you’ve just heard I studied for my master’s degree and which has educated
master’s degree and which has educated
master’s degree and which has educated to the leaders and scholars of so many
to the leaders and scholars of so many
to the leaders and scholars of so many arts institutions my own career as a
arts institutions my own career as a
arts institutions my own career as a museum curator actually began as an
museum curator actually began as an
museum curator actually began as an undergraduate at Smith College which is
undergraduate at Smith College which is
undergraduate at Smith College which is an all-woman’s College in Northampton
an all-woman’s College in Northampton
an all-woman’s College in Northampton Massachusetts and at Smith I undertook
Massachusetts and at Smith I undertook
Massachusetts and at Smith I undertook my freshman year
my freshman year
my freshman year the epic art 100 course so art 100 at
the epic art 100 course so art 100 at
the epic art 100 course so art 100 at Smith was in a way it was like a rite of
Smith was in a way it was like a rite of
Smith was in a way it was like a rite of passage it was an epic year-long survey
passage it was an epic year-long survey
passage it was an epic year-long survey of mainly European painting sculpture
of mainly European painting sculpture
of mainly European painting sculpture and architecture and the course went
and architecture and the course went
and architecture and the course went from the ancient world to the modern era
from the ancient world to the modern era
from the ancient world to the modern era and after each lecture the professors
and after each lecture the professors
and after each lecture the professors would take photographic reproductions of
would take photographic reproductions of
would take photographic reproductions of the works of art that we just studied in
the works of art that we just studied in
the works of art that we just studied in class and they would tack them up onto
class and they would tack them up onto
class and they would tack them up onto the walls of the art department study
the walls of the art department study
the walls of the art department study room and each of these images had
room and each of these images had
room and each of these images had captions underneath with basic
captions underneath with basic
captions underneath with basic information about the work of art and
information about the work of art and
information about the work of art and they were arranged chronologically
they were arranged chronologically
they were arranged chronologically around the room and as the year wore on
around the room and as the year wore on
around the room and as the year wore on hundreds of images with jostle for space
hundreds of images with jostle for space
hundreds of images with jostle for space on the study room wall in some places
on the study room wall in some places
on the study room wall in some places reaching up to 7 feet high and the
reaching up to 7 feet high and the
reaching up to 7 feet high and the intention was to serve as a study aid so
intention was to serve as a study aid so
intention was to serve as a study aid so that students could go and memorise the
that students could go and memorise the
that students could go and memorise the works and in the weeks leading up to the
works and in the weeks leading up to the
works and in the weeks leading up to the final exam dozens of students would
final exam dozens of students would
final exam dozens of students would cluster there as you can see in this
cluster there as you can see in this
cluster there as you can see in this photograph to revise and prepare for for
photograph to revise and prepare for for
photograph to revise and prepare for for the test and because the the images were
the test and because the the images were
the test and because the the images were arranged chronologically we would walk
arranged chronologically we would walk
arranged chronologically we would walk around the room in this kind of circular
around the room in this kind of circular
around the room in this kind of circular kind of never-ending perambulation
kind of never-ending perambulation
kind of never-ending perambulation trying to commit these works of art to
trying to commit these works of art to
trying to commit these works of art to memory and in this way the study room
memory and in this way the study room
memory and in this way the study room became like a magical time machine I was
became like a magical time machine I was
became like a magical time machine I was able to walk through centuries of art
able to walk through centuries of art
able to walk through centuries of art history in just an hour or two and it
history in just an hour or two and it
history in just an hour or two and it didn’t really occur to me then that you
didn’t really occur to me then that you
didn’t really occur to me then that you know as my female classmates and I were
know as my female classmates and I were
know as my female classmates and I were looking at ancient Greek sculpture or
looking at ancient Greek sculpture or
looking at ancient Greek sculpture or Italian Renaissance paint
Italian Renaissance paint
Italian Renaissance paint or Cuba’s masterworks that the story
or Cuba’s masterworks that the story
or Cuba’s masterworks that the story that we were walking through was
that we were walking through was
that we were walking through was essentially a story about art created by
essentially a story about art created by
essentially a story about art created by men now of course many years on the
men now of course many years on the
men now of course many years on the Canon has evolved to include artists and
Canon has evolved to include artists and
Canon has evolved to include artists and themes that were ignored when I was a
themes that were ignored when I was a
themes that were ignored when I was a student and I think that the art to 100
student and I think that the art to 100
student and I think that the art to 100 course has been replaced by other
course has been replaced by other
course has been replaced by other approaches but as my career as a museum
approaches but as my career as a museum
approaches but as my career as a museum curator has unfolded it turns out that
curator has unfolded it turns out that
curator has unfolded it turns out that having studied history of art at an
having studied history of art at an
having studied history of art at an all-woman’s College was a practical
all-woman’s College was a practical
all-woman’s College was a practical beginning because it prepared me for a
beginning because it prepared me for a
beginning because it prepared me for a career of working with women now as a
career of working with women now as a
career of working with women now as a student at the court fold a few years
student at the court fold a few years
student at the court fold a few years later I had the distinct impression that
later I had the distinct impression that
later I had the distinct impression that my days at an all women’s college had
my days at an all women’s college had
my days at an all women’s college had been extended into graduate school and
been extended into graduate school and
been extended into graduate school and but actually that impression turns out
but actually that impression turns out
but actually that impression turns out to be pretty accurate because of the
to be pretty accurate because of the
to be pretty accurate because of the roughly 7,500 Living Court old alumni
roughly 7,500 Living Court old alumni
roughly 7,500 Living Court old alumni about 70% of them are women
about 70% of them are women
about 70% of them are women 30% men that gender split neatly mirrors
30% men that gender split neatly mirrors
30% men that gender split neatly mirrors that of art museum curators in the
that of art museum curators in the
that of art museum curators in the United States about 70% of art museum
United States about 70% of art museum
United States about 70% of art museum curators are women 30% men and here in
curators are women 30% men and here in
curators are women 30% men and here in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum
London at the Victoria and Albert Museum
London at the Victoria and Albert Museum where I work it’s 75 percent curatorial
where I work it’s 75 percent curatorial
where I work it’s 75 percent curatorial staffing is female now you might be
staffing is female now you might be
staffing is female now you might be wondering you know actually what is a
wondering you know actually what is a
wondering you know actually what is a museum curator
museum curator
museum curator well curators are basically in how
well curators are basically in how
well curators are basically in how scholars and storytellers for museums
scholars and storytellers for museums
scholars and storytellers for museums through their exhibitions and gallery
through their exhibitions and gallery
through their exhibitions and gallery displays and their lectures and books
displays and their lectures and books
displays and their lectures and books curators tell stories about human
curators tell stories about human
curators tell stories about human creativity ingenuity and history now I
creativity ingenuity and history now I
creativity ingenuity and history now I recall as you know over the last sort of
recall as you know over the last sort of
recall as you know over the last sort of several decades of working in an art
several decades of working in an art
several decades of working in an art museum you know I’ve noticed that also
museum you know I’ve noticed that also
museum you know I’ve noticed that also happily because many institutions value
happily because many institutions value
happily because many institutions value curatorial scholarship and expertise
curatorial scholarship and expertise
curatorial scholarship and expertise curators also serve as the kind of
curators also serve as the kind of
curators also serve as the kind of pipeline to leadership so I I suppose
pipeline to leadership so I I suppose
pipeline to leadership so I I suppose you might be thinking
you might be thinking
you might be thinking that if 70% of curators are women in
that if 70% of curators are women in
that if 70% of curators are women in most art museums and also curators are
most art museums and also curators are
most art museums and also curators are the kind of training ground for
the kind of training ground for
the kind of training ground for leadership I bet you’re assuming that
leadership I bet you’re assuming that
leadership I bet you’re assuming that there’s a lot of women leading art
there’s a lot of women leading art
there’s a lot of women leading art museums in the world but in fact that is
museums in the world but in fact that is
museums in the world but in fact that is not the case
not the case
not the case I also remember as a student watching
I also remember as a student watching
I also remember as a student watching the royal of art world feminist protest
the royal of art world feminist protest
the royal of art world feminist protest that burst into the headlines led by
that burst into the headlines led by
that burst into the headlines led by groups like the guerrilla girls who
groups like the guerrilla girls who
groups like the guerrilla girls who asked the provocative question in their
asked the provocative question in their
asked the provocative question in their 1989 poster do women have to be naked to
1989 poster do women have to be naked to
1989 poster do women have to be naked to get into the Met Museum the group
get into the Met Museum the group
get into the Met Museum the group campaigned and actually still does
campaigned and actually still does
campaigned and actually still does against the scarcity of women artists in
against the scarcity of women artists in
against the scarcity of women artists in museums and their protest still applies
museums and their protest still applies
museums and their protest still applies not just to artists but also to arts
not just to artists but also to arts
not just to artists but also to arts world leadership a woman has never run a
world leadership a woman has never run a
world leadership a woman has never run a top-three art museum and according to
top-three art museum and according to
top-three art museum and according to attendance figures those are the Louvre
attendance figures those are the Louvre
attendance figures those are the Louvre in Paris
in Paris
in Paris London’s British Museum and New York’s
London’s British Museum and New York’s
London’s British Museum and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art altogether
Metropolitan Museum of Art altogether
Metropolitan Museum of Art altogether they these three have been running for
they these three have been running for
they these three have been running for about six hundred and thirty years and
about six hundred and thirty years and
about six hundred and thirty years and not a single female director in sight if
not a single female director in sight if
not a single female director in sight if you look at the top 20 museums in the
you look at the top 20 museums in the
you look at the top 20 museums in the world ranked by attendance you can see
world ranked by attendance you can see
world ranked by attendance you can see that there are three female directors
that there are three female directors
that there are three female directors but that’s just three women leading the
but that’s just three women leading the
but that’s just three women leading the top 20 group of institutions where 70%
top 20 group of institutions where 70%
top 20 group of institutions where 70% of their curatorial staff are women and
of their curatorial staff are women and
of their curatorial staff are women and that staff also is the training ground
that staff also is the training ground
that staff also is the training ground for leadership now if you think about
for leadership now if you think about
for leadership now if you think about some of the aspects of you know why
some of the aspects of you know why
some of the aspects of you know why there should be more women leading
there should be more women leading
there should be more women leading museums I would argue the following
museums I would argue the following
museums I would argue the following first art museums are high profile those
first art museums are high profile those
first art museums are high profile those top three institutions together receive
top three institutions together receive
top three institutions together receive a collective visitorship of around 20
a collective visitorship of around 20
a collective visitorship of around 20 million visitors a year many of those
million visitors a year many of those
million visitors a year many of those visitors are tourists who spend money at
visitors are tourists who spend money at
visitors are tourists who spend money at shops and restaurants along the way to
shops and restaurants along the way to
shops and restaurants along the way to visiting the rosetta stone and taking
visiting the rosetta stone and taking
visiting the rosetta stone and taking selfies with the Mona Lisa in the United
selfies with the Mona Lisa in the United
selfies with the Mona Lisa in the United States alone museums contribute four
States alone museums contribute four
States alone museums contribute four hundred million dollars to the American
hundred million dollars to the American
hundred million dollars to the American economy so museums are we’ve just
economy so museums are we’ve just
economy so museums are we’ve just learned high profile they’re big
learned high profile they’re big
learned high profile they’re big business they’re poor and there are also
business they’re poor and there are also
business they’re poor and there are also significant employers in Britain museums
significant employers in Britain museums
significant employers in Britain museums employ museums galleries and libraries
employ museums galleries and libraries
employ museums galleries and libraries altogether employing 97 thousand people
altogether employing 97 thousand people
altogether employing 97 thousand people and in the United States there are
and in the United States there are
and in the United States there are 400,000 jobs held in museums
400,000 jobs held in museums
400,000 jobs held in museums so because museums are high-profile big
so because museums are high-profile big
so because museums are high-profile big business and significant employers their
business and significant employers their
business and significant employers their employment practices matter and also
employment practices matter and also
employment practices matter and also their directorships matter because
their directorships matter because
their directorships matter because museum directors not only crystallize
museum directors not only crystallize
museum directors not only crystallize the values that their institutions hold
the values that their institutions hold
the values that their institutions hold up as important but they also influence
up as important but they also influence
up as important but they also influence and in sometimes in some cases they
and in sometimes in some cases they
and in sometimes in some cases they decide what goes on the walls and in the
decide what goes on the walls and in the
decide what goes on the walls and in the galleries which in turn influences what
galleries which in turn influences what
galleries which in turn influences what the public values and holds as important
the public values and holds as important
the public values and holds as important so their employment practices matter now
so their employment practices matter now
so their employment practices matter now imagining a cultural landscape or bias
imagining a cultural landscape or bias
imagining a cultural landscape or bias has no place I think that gender should
has no place I think that gender should
has no place I think that gender should also be twinned with social and economic
also be twinned with social and economic
also be twinned with social and economic factors issues of sexual identity and
factors issues of sexual identity and
factors issues of sexual identity and orientation and also the broad range of
orientation and also the broad range of
orientation and also the broad range of able-bodied mistakes up the real world
able-bodied mistakes up the real world
able-bodied mistakes up the real world and the real human experience and that
and the real human experience and that
and the real human experience and that frankly differs from the profiles that
frankly differs from the profiles that
frankly differs from the profiles that we’ve come to expect in our cultural
we’ve come to expect in our cultural
we’ve come to expect in our cultural leadership now I think that we’re all
leadership now I think that we’re all
leadership now I think that we’re all aware of the many challenges that have
aware of the many challenges that have
aware of the many challenges that have made towards diversity and hiring of
made towards diversity and hiring of
made towards diversity and hiring of publicly traded companies like corporate
publicly traded companies like corporate
publicly traded companies like corporate boards and executive corridors if we’re
boards and executive corridors if we’re
boards and executive corridors if we’re going to expand the horizons of the art
going to expand the horizons of the art
going to expand the horizons of the art world and aim for diversity of thought
world and aim for diversity of thought
world and aim for diversity of thought and leadership we also have to diversify
and leadership we also have to diversify
and leadership we also have to diversify the leaders that had these institutions
the leaders that had these institutions
the leaders that had these institutions if I look at the top 12 art museums in
if I look at the top 12 art museums in
if I look at the top 12 art museums in the world this is what you’ll see and as
the world this is what you’ll see and as
the world this is what you’ll see and as you look at these figures you’ll notice
you look at these figures you’ll notice
you look at these figures you’ll notice that of the top 12 Britain is the only
that of the top 12 Britain is the only
that of the top 12 Britain is the only country to have more than to use
country to have more than to use
country to have more than to use on that list in a fact is that this
on that list in a fact is that this
on that list in a fact is that this shows that Britain has four and this is
shows that Britain has four and this is
shows that Britain has four and this is why it’s my belief that when you are
why it’s my belief that when you are
why it’s my belief that when you are thinking about cultural leadership
thinking about cultural leadership
thinking about cultural leadership Britain can and should lead the way
Britain can and should lead the way
Britain can and should lead the way first of all because Britain is a
first of all because Britain is a
first of all because Britain is a cultural superpower these four
cultural superpower these four
cultural superpower these four institutions on the top twelve are proof
institutions on the top twelve are proof
institutions on the top twelve are proof of that also Britain is no stranger to
of that also Britain is no stranger to
of that also Britain is no stranger to girl power we have our second female
girl power we have our second female
girl power we have our second female Prime Minister and our current queen is
Prime Minister and our current queen is
Prime Minister and our current queen is the longest reigning monarch but also we
the longest reigning monarch but also we
the longest reigning monarch but also we have a better-than-average track record
have a better-than-average track record
have a better-than-average track record of appointing female museum heads in
of appointing female museum heads in
of appointing female museum heads in addition to the top job at Tate Modern
addition to the top job at Tate Modern
addition to the top job at Tate Modern and now of course the new head of the
and now of course the new head of the
and now of course the new head of the entire orbit eight organisation Britain
entire orbit eight organisation Britain
entire orbit eight organisation Britain also boasts two directors of non arts
also boasts two directors of non arts
also boasts two directors of non arts focused national museums in addition
focused national museums in addition
focused national museums in addition some museums outside of the national
some museums outside of the national
some museums outside of the national network and including our host the
network and including our host the
network and including our host the Courtauld Institute of Art also have
Courtauld Institute of Art also have
Courtauld Institute of Art also have female directors now I would also argue
female directors now I would also argue
female directors now I would also argue that you know Britain can and should be
that you know Britain can and should be
that you know Britain can and should be the way for all of these reasons but
the way for all of these reasons but
the way for all of these reasons but also because Britain is trying through
also because Britain is trying through
also because Britain is trying through many efforts to address these issues
many efforts to address these issues
many efforts to address these issues through funding for curators from black
through funding for curators from black
through funding for curators from black and minority ethnic backgrounds as well
and minority ethnic backgrounds as well
and minority ethnic backgrounds as well as internships for young people and pro
as internships for young people and pro
as internships for young people and pro women Pro women’s efforts are also hard
women Pro women’s efforts are also hard
women Pro women’s efforts are also hard at work so things are happening in
at work so things are happening in
at work so things are happening in Britain but I think that more can be
Britain but I think that more can be
Britain but I think that more can be done and meanwhile across the water in
done and meanwhile across the water in
done and meanwhile across the water in the United States population shifts
the United States population shifts
the United States population shifts indicate that in less than 20 years the
indicate that in less than 20 years the
indicate that in less than 20 years the group that has historically served as
group that has historically served as
group that has historically served as the kind of core visitorship for museums
the kind of core visitorship for museums
the kind of core visitorship for museums that is non-hispanic whites that group
that is non-hispanic whites that group
that is non-hispanic whites that group will become a minority of the US
will become a minority of the US
will become a minority of the US population and for all of these museums
population and for all of these museums
population and for all of these museums what this means not this is not just a
what this means not this is not just a
what this means not this is not just a sort of issue in the United States but
sort of issue in the United States but
sort of issue in the United States but across the world unless these museums
across the world unless these museums
across the world unless these museums start to radically rethink the way they
start to radically rethink the way they
start to radically rethink the way they do business and the way that they
do business and the way that they
do business and the way that they connect with their audiences they’re
connect with their audiences they’re
connect with their audiences they’re going to be serving
going to be serving
going to be serving an ever-shrinking segment of the
an ever-shrinking segment of the
an ever-shrinking segment of the population and they will therefore
population and they will therefore
population and they will therefore become irrelevant now I wish that I
become irrelevant now I wish that I
become irrelevant now I wish that I could go back in time back to my
could go back in time back to my
could go back in time back to my freshman year self first year at college
freshman year self first year at college
freshman year self first year at college and tell myself to look again at the
and tell myself to look again at the
and tell myself to look again at the textbook that served as our reference
textbook that served as our reference
textbook that served as our reference for the art 100 course and if I’d done
for the art 100 course and if I’d done
for the art 100 course and if I’d done so like I was able to do last week
so like I was able to do last week
so like I was able to do last week because that’s that textbook is still
because that’s that textbook is still
because that’s that textbook is still hanging around with all of its
hanging around with all of its
hanging around with all of its underlined pages and coffee stains and
underlined pages and coffee stains and
underlined pages and coffee stains and if I’d count it of a number of
if I’d count it of a number of
if I’d count it of a number of reproductions of works of art I’d have
reproductions of works of art I’d have
reproductions of works of art I’d have seen that of the 1031 works reproduced
seen that of the 1031 works reproduced
seen that of the 1031 works reproduced in its pages only 12 or of works by
in its pages only 12 or of works by
in its pages only 12 or of works by women artists well here I am my freshman
women artists well here I am my freshman
women artists well here I am my freshman year self and Smith I look really hard
year self and Smith I look really hard
year self and Smith I look really hard at work I think I’m revising for an art
at work I think I’m revising for an art
at work I think I’m revising for an art exam and you can see that on the wall to
exam and you can see that on the wall to
exam and you can see that on the wall to my left there’s a poster and it features
my left there’s a poster and it features
my left there’s a poster and it features a post-impressionist artist era Steve
a post-impressionist artist era Steve
a post-impressionist artist era Steve Malley owes a painting called la fama
Malley owes a painting called la fama
Malley owes a painting called la fama loom Braille and I bought this poster on
loom Braille and I bought this poster on
loom Braille and I bought this poster on a trip to Paris and I also bought that
a trip to Paris and I also bought that
a trip to Paris and I also bought that rather embarrassing black beret you see
rather embarrassing black beret you see
rather embarrassing black beret you see hanging from the heating pipe above it
hanging from the heating pipe above it
hanging from the heating pipe above it and so this is this is my kind of
and so this is this is my kind of
and so this is this is my kind of college dorm room wall with the homage
college dorm room wall with the homage
college dorm room wall with the homage to that post-impressionist artist and if
to that post-impressionist artist and if
to that post-impressionist artist and if you’re wondering
you’re wondering
you’re wondering kind of unsure about the cultural
kind of unsure about the cultural
kind of unsure about the cultural influence that these big arts
influence that these big arts
influence that these big arts institutions wield consider that last
institutions wield consider that last
institutions wield consider that last year the top 20 museums were only three
year the top 20 museums were only three
year the top 20 museums were only three women are directors those top 20 museums
women are directors those top 20 museums
women are directors those top 20 museums received a collective total of 85
received a collective total of 85
received a collective total of 85 million people that’s 85 million people
million people that’s 85 million people
million people that’s 85 million people making what I think is today’s modern
making what I think is today’s modern
making what I think is today’s modern day pilgrimage traveling sometimes a
day pilgrimage traveling sometimes a
day pilgrimage traveling sometimes a great distance to visit a museum
great distance to visit a museum
great distance to visit a museum standing in line to buy a ticket going
standing in line to buy a ticket going
standing in line to buy a ticket going to look at a work of art noticing how
to look at a work of art noticing how
to look at a work of art noticing how many people are there with them probably
many people are there with them probably
many people are there with them probably noticing who the artist is hopefully
noticing who the artist is hopefully
noticing who the artist is hopefully also reading what the museum curator has
also reading what the museum curator has
also reading what the museum curator has to say
to say
to say it and then walking down the corridor to
it and then walking down the corridor to
it and then walking down the corridor to find the gift shop to buy the poster
find the gift shop to buy the poster
find the gift shop to buy the poster which might end up on a college dorm
which might end up on a college dorm
which might end up on a college dorm room wall thus furthering a particular
room wall thus furthering a particular
room wall thus furthering a particular view to be handed on to the next
view to be handed on to the next
view to be handed on to the next generation about whose art and what
generation about whose art and what
generation about whose art and what kinds of culture count thank you
kinds of culture count thank you
kinds of culture count thank you [Applause]
”
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