Major museums all over the country are currently undergoing leadership changes at a time when modern cultural institutions require increasingly complex skill sets. The traditional functions of museums are being expanded, and in addition to collecting and preserving, museums are now expected to be inclusive, community-facing, and engaged in contemporary debates. Museum directors today must face a diverse array of challenges, including overdue efforts to diversify collections, restitution claims, labor negotiations, internal unrest, scrutiny of board members, and protests over social justice and climate change. Leadership in Art Museums initiative and the International Council of Museums redefined the term “museum” for the first time in 15 years to increase racial equity in leadership development. The pace of change at major museums is still considered too slow by some critics. The new generation of museum directors is expected to be entrepreneurs, consensus-builders, and able to handle younger staff who expect a voice. Despite museums’ efforts to diversify, hiring leaders of color remains a challenge due to inherent biases and racism. The changing demands of museums have not gone unnoticed by their predecessors.
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