Who has been invited to the table?

This browser does not support push notifications at the moment. To manage your notification settings, you will need to update your browser's settings for this site. If you use Safari 16.4 or later on an iOS device, the site app must be installed on the device's Home Screen for push notifications to work. Currently, notifications are blocked for this site.

Recently, I delivered a speech at Booth University College's inaugural Honour and Hope Harvest Dinner in support of Shelter U. I was asked to discuss the impact of art in the community, a topic I have explored extensively in my professional career as a museum director, writer, teacher, and consultant with Civic Muse.

The dinner highlighted the question of whether the work of museums, universities, and other public institutions truly makes a difference in people's lives and communities. An important aspect of this question is who has been invited to these institutions. Museum director and mentor once reminded me that conversation about public engagement often begins too late.

Before engagement, there must be welcome, and before welcome, there must be invitation. Creating extraordinary buildings, exhibitions, and programs and proclaiming them open to all is not enough. People must believe that these spaces are meant for them, or they will not enter.

The value of the invitation is critical in determining whether people will engage with an institution. This question extends beyond museums to universities, libraries, places of worship, and community organizations. In the case of Shelter U, I serve on the community advisory committee, inspired by Dr. Aaron Klassen, a Winnipeg sociologist and educator who has applied ideas of culture, education, and social change to help people facing poverty and barriers to higher education.

Shelter U brings the concept of university-level learning to a Winnipeg context, offering access to higher education for people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and other challenges. The program brings students from Shelter U and the campus together, fostering an environment where students share experiences, ask questions, discuss, and create. The classroom becomes a place of exchange, with students bringing diverse perspectives that challenge and enrich the conversation.

Shelter U embodies a commitment to access and belonging. Access is essential, but true belonging requires that individuals recognize their presence has value. This distinction is crucial for cultural institutions, as we navigate the balance between measurement and meaningful engagement. While institutions should be accountable and numbers can reveal important insights about reach and resource use, they can also create an illusion that measurement alone tells the full story.

A museum may attract visitors, meet program participation goals, and boast strong digital engagement, yet fail to create genuine impact. Similarly, a gallery may meet every target on a spreadsheet but offer little insight into the transformative experiences of visitors.

The challenge for cultural institutions is to distinguish activity from impact. This question has guided my work in museums and consulting, prompting me to ponder how we can measure the profound effects of our efforts on individuals and communities.