Laura Raicovich on Museums as Spaces for Care and Protest

Laura Raicovich, interim director of the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Queer Art in New York and former director of the Queens Museum, discusses how museums can transform into spaces for care. She argues that the myth of museum neutrality is harmful and that institutions must acknowledge their inherent point of view. Raicovich's forthcoming book, 'Culture Strike: Art and Museums in an Age of Protest' (Verso, 2021), addresses the ICOM definition debate, advocating for justice and equity. She emphasizes that protests are acts of care and that museums need to radically slow down, rethink funding models, and embrace both hyperlocal and international audiences. The pandemic has forced museums to connect virtually, as seen with Leslie-Lohman's 'Alt-Text as Poetry' program with Shannon Finnegan, which attracted over 500 participants from Uganda, Australia, and across the US. Raicovich calls for increased federal funding for culture in the US, citing the WPA as a model, and predicts the emergence of new, more diverse institutions. She also discusses the need for diverse boards and open conversations about controversial exhibitions like the postponed Philip Guston Now show.