July 14th 2023.
In the multibillion-dollar arts world, Black Americans have been largely excluded from participating in the business. This is a major issue considering the immense size of the industry. Market researcher Statista estimated the U.S. art market to be around $30.2 billion in 2022.
To help boost industry diversity, the University of Delaware and the Alliance of HBCU Museums and Galleries were awarded a $500,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. This funding will increase the capacity of UD's Department of Art Conservation's summer program from four students to ten for the 2023 and 2024 sessions.
The grant will cover transportation and housing costs for students, as well as provide a stipend to help with expenses. The award will expand the program that UD has been offering in conjunction with the Alliance since 2017.
The six-week internship program allows students to work in conservation laboratories with professionals in the field. They will be exposed to the conservation departments of major U.S. art institutions, and gain valuable networking opportunities that could accelerate their career growth. Generally, becoming a conservator requires a lot of practical experience. This is often acquired through unpaid internships or volunteering, which is not an option for many students from low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods. Art conservators are responsible for analyzing and restoring various art objects and artifacts to make them last for longer periods of time.
The lack of art conservation programs in U.S. universities, particularly HBCUs, is a major issue. The new effort seeks to bridge the gap by connecting students at HBCUs and minority-serving institutions with hands-on field experience, as well as major U.S. museums and cultural institutions.
Brian Siegel, SVP, Global Arts, Culture & Heritage Executive, Bank of America, commented on the initiative via email. He highlighted the fact that while much has been done to celebrate art from diverse backgrounds, there is still a need to ensure that the arts appeal to new and varied audiences. He added that the industry has been slow in creating opportunities for diverse employees, especially in specialized areas such as curation and art conservation.
The following students are participating in the 2023 summer program; they are either enrolled in or recently graduated from HBCUs and minority-serving institutions: April Lacey, Sinclair Strong, Darius Scott, Starr A. Smith, Dominique Golden, Dorian Henry, Gabrielle Hilliard, Robert Killins III, Shamica A. Terry, and Joyce G. Vázquez Villanueva.
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s grant is a major step in the right direction. It will ensure that underserved communities have access to the same opportunities that those from more privileged backgrounds do. This will open up the industry to a much wider, more diverse talent pool and help create a more equitable future for the arts.
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