Reflections on Museum Hue’s 10th Anniversary
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Stephanie Johnson-Cunningham
Executive Director, Museum Hue
Museum Hue is celebrating 10 years, an extraordinary and exciting milestone for us. This anniversary coincides with significant organizational growth of one million dollars in our operational budget. In the decade since our founding, Museum Hue has been a steadfast advocate for Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, and all People of Color, amplifying our arts organizations, creative practices, and cultural expressions across New York State and nationwide. Now, more than ever, our commitment to this work is critical. Support from our community and our ongoing advocacy has been instrumental in bringing us to this moment.
In 2023, Museum Hue was awarded one of the most competitive federal opportunities in our field—an IMLS National Leadership Grant for HueCultures National: Northeast. This $545,896 grant, awarded over three years, was designed to support groundbreaking research on the impact and needs of museums founded and led by Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, and all People of Color. The irony is not lost on me: the very research we were conducting—about the challenges, vulnerabilities, and systemic underfunding of culturally-specific institutions—is now being interrupted by the same forces we’ve been naming and working to change. In a painful yet powerful full-circle moment, the termination of our grant confirms the urgency of the work we’ve committed ourselves to.
So far, IMLS has disbursed close to half of the promised award. Because it was a matching grant, I also raised more than $1 million in support—a monumental effort and investment that has been five years in the making. And yet, with a single clause invoked, all of that is put in jeopardy. Thankfully, much of the research for HueCultures Northeast has been completed or is actively underway. While we will have to cancel some of the programming planned for the third year, the development of the accompanying digital platform will move forward, supported by other funders, which we are now working to activate on an accelerated timeline. This moment—though challenging—is not the end. If anything, it is a call to regroup, reimagine, and redouble our commitment to one another. One of the core findings from HueCultures has been how deeply funding impacts our field—who gets to survive, and who is asked to fight for every penny. The fact that this project is now affected by the very issue it aimed to illuminate only strengthens our resolve.
We know we’re not alone. I’ve already heard from peers whose organizations are experiencing similar losses. That’s why it’s more important than ever to join us on June 5 for the Museum Hue 10th Anniversary Symposium—a vital gathering for cultural leaders, artists, and advocates to reflect, strategize, and build collective pathways forward. This moment demands shared insight, community, and solidarity—and we hope you’ll be part of that conversation. You can register here.
I invite you to join us for Museum Hue’s 10th year anniversary symposium and celebration of our powerful community and connectivity. Join us for a powerful day-long convening in celebration of Museum Hue’s 10-year milestone. This symposium will highlight the power of media, advocacy, mapping, and research in amplifying and sustaining the legacy and future of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and all People of Color - founded and led arts and cultural institutions. Through dynamic panels, we will examine innovative strategies. As part of the day’s celebration, Museum Hue will also honor arts leaders who have made outstanding contributions to keeping arts and culture thriving. This awards portion will uplift the efforts of those who continue to lead with creativity, resilience, and vision.
This anniversary is not only a celebration, but also a call to action—a reminder that we must continue investing in institutions committed to preserving the artistic practices and cultural lifeways of Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, and all People of Color.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Your steadfast belief in our vision fuels our work every day, and I look forward to the exciting possibilities we will create together in the years ahead.
Learn more about the Museum Hue 10th Anniversary Symposium and Celebration
Thursday, June 5, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 7:00 pm https://www.museumhue.org/event/symposium2025/
Stephanie Johnson-Cunningham
Executive Director
Museum Hue