This past Saturday, January 12, the first gathering of the Museum’s Community Advisory Council (CAC), took place. Eighteen council members, including high school students, artists, a university professor, a pastor, a farmer, a rapper, and others, representing a diverse cross-section of Greater Jackson-area residents, engaged in passionate and meaningful conversations throughout the morning.
The CAC is tasked with helping the us examine our approach to exhibitions, community engagement, and institutional strategy by offering evaluative feedback, ideas for collaborative opportunities, and awareness of the desires of local communities. The CAC will meet quarterly over the next two years with the focus of strengthening the Museum’s and CAPE’s connection to its audience.
While listening to the council share their stories and ideas, I was struck by the infinite possibilities that this collaboration holds for the Museum, for CAPE, and for our community, both inside and outside of the Museum’s walls. That these volunteers have agreed to share their time and ideas to help us increase the extent to which our work reflects the communities we serve and is relevant to the lives of contemporary Mississippians is an honor.
If you are interested in becoming a part of the conversation, contact me at mdavis@msmuseumart.org.
Monique Davis
CAPE Managing Director
