BC Museums Association
Summer Equity Series
June – August 2023
Learning about equity and taking action to create a more just future is a never-ending process. To support our sector at this pivotal moment of change, the BC Museums Association is facilitating a free, online summer equity series for arts, culture, and heritage professionals/volunteers.
Recent BC Arts Council feedback has encouraged many arts and culture organizations in BC to focus on continuing their equity journeys. To this collective work in becoming more equitable and just, the BCMA is hosting a summer equity series featuring regular webinars, online workshops, and discussions from June to August 2023.
Summer Equity Series Sessions
June 14
Beyond Colonial Holidays: Exploring Community-Responsive Alternatives
Inspired by the #CancelCanadaDay discussions of the past few years, join a panel of arts, culture, and heritage professionals as we reflect on forms of community engagement that draw the focus away from celebrations of colonial holidays.
Speakers Sherri Kajiwara, Dr. Satwinder Bains, and Dr. Tzu-I Chung will share about the histories and events that we can dedicate our time to instead, drawing on examples from the Nikkei National Museum and Culture Centre, University of Fraser Valley’s South Asian Studies Institute (SASI), and the Royal BC Museum.
June 23
12 – 1PM PT
Are Museums Still Not Neutral? With Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandra
Following up on Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandra’s 2020 #MuseumsAreNotNeutral webinar, join peers in reflecting on the conversations about equity, justice, and anti-racism our sector has had over the past three years and whether actions have measured up to words.
July 5
12 – 1PM PT
Cultivating Careers #4: Challenging Inequities Through Inclusive Leadership.
In this professional development session, facilitator Madison Tardif will provide tools and resources to think about what skills make an inclusive leader. Participants will be encouraged to think about their own positionality and how to use their power to promote change in their own spheres of influence.
Please note: This session will involve breakout rooms, and we strongly encourage participants to have their cameras on to create a sense of safety in this IBPOC affinity space.
July 25
Rematriation with Taajuu Consulting
Taajuu Consulting supports organizations and community through anti-oppression frameworks while uplifting Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ knowledges and voices. Join Taajuu for a conversation about why it is important that we critically engage with the language we use to discuss the return of Indigenous arts, culture, and heritage.
We are working to confirm additional sessions for July and August and look forward to sharing updates with our members as speakers and dates are finalized. If you have a suggestion for an equity-based topic or session, please contact bcma@museum.bc.ca.
