Multicultural Audience Development Initiative

The goals of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Multicultural Audience Development Initiative are to increase awareness of the Museum's collection and programs, to create ongoing relationships with the many diverse communities that make up New York, to diversify Museum visitorship and Membership, and to increase participation in Museum activities. We have established a Multicultural Advisory Committee composed of New York's African-American, South Asian, Asian-American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, LGBT, Muslim, and interfaith cultural leaders and organizations, who meet on a regular basis with Museum staff to pursue these ongoing goals. The Committee articulates a strategy for establishing a mutually beneficial alliance between the local community and Museum whereby interest in the Museum is fostered among the Committee's constituents and the greater community. We achieve these goals through several outreach activities, including:

• Receptions, tours, gallery talks, and lectures that are inspired by the cultural diversity represented in the Museum's collection
• Support for and participation in many cultural and civic events that affect communities in New York and the tristate area
• Collaborations with The Studio Museum in Harlem, El Museo del Barrio, The New York Historical Society, the New York Times Community Affairs Department, Museum of Chinese Art in America, and many other institutions and organizations
• Celebration of annual heritage months

Through all of these joint ventures we invite guests from participating institutions to discover the breadth of the Museum's collection. Strengthening our efforts through the media is also part of our objective. We are expanding the Initiative to reach community newspapers, radio, and television through advertising, press releases, and media alerts. We are also extending our Internet outreach through the use of social media.

2013:

• Proclamation from The Council of the City of New York to the Multicultural Audience Development Initiative upon its celebration of Diwali
• Proclamation from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer commending The Met for its leadership and declaring Sunday, November 10, 2013, to be "Diwali at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Celebration Day” in the Borough of Manhattan
• Chief Audience Development Officer Donna Williams profiled in the March edition of The Royaltons™ Report and named a Diversity Champion for the Multicultural Art and Heritage for International Development award, in conjunction with the United Nations

2012:

• Muslim Consultative Network Cross Cultural Engagement Award
• Proclamation from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer commending The Met for its leadership and declaring Sunday, June 10, 2012, to be "Metropolitan Museum of Art Appreciation Day"
• New York Turkish Cultural Center's Art and Culture Award
• National Conference of Artists Award
• The National Minority Business Council Achievement Award

2011:

• Special recognition from the American Muslim Lawyers Association
• Special commemorative plaque from the Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals
• The Metro New York National Black MBA Association Cultural Achievement Award
• Harlem's Fashion Row Visionary Award

2009:

• Senior Audience Development Officer Donna Williams honored by the Tau Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for her commitment to diversity and support for multicultural initiatives

2008:

• Museum honored by Rolling Thunder, Inc. (Chapter 1, New York) for its support of POW/MIA and veterans issues
• National Council of Artists/Black Art History Makers Multicultural Audience Development Award
• Proclamation from the State of New York for the Asian Pacific American Heritage Award