Oakland Museum director calls for museums to act as civic institutions

Lori Fogarty, executive director of the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), argues in a comment piece that museums must go beyond being civil institutions to become active civic institutions. She outlines internal commitments: voluntarily recognizing the OMCA-WU union, adopting pay equity with a minimum of $30.88 per hour, and implementing transparent financial practices including socially responsible investments. Externally, she advocates centering community voices, creating spaces for social cohesion (e.g., Friday Nights at OMCA), and measuring impact. Fogarty cites peer institutions: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Walker Art Center, Filoli, Walters Art Gallery, Wing Luke Museum, Abbe Museum, Museum of Us, Brooklyn Museum, SOMArts, Japanese American National Museum, and museums in Minneapolis. She emphasizes learning from decolonizing efforts and standing with organizations supporting democracy and artists' spaces.