Museums have long served as educational hubs in their communities, with carefully assembled collections and exhibitions highlighting our cultural past and present. Today, museums must find new ways to remain centers of knowledge and inspiration by partnering directly with educators and school systems.
In my role as the chief executive officer of the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of blending the traditional museum experience with innovative educational events. I’m proud of how MoPOP is at the forefront of this evolution as we find creative ways to engage audiences and promote cultural literacy. Fortunately, digital learning experiences and education programming present exciting new opportunities for cultural institutions to increase accessibility and engage families and local communities.
The Decline of Arts and Culture Education in the US
School districts across the nation are cutting arts and culture programs. Federal mandates such as the No Child Left Behind Act, which became law in 2001, emphasized math and reading so much that they often overshadowed the importance of arts education, leading to a trend in budget cuts. In June, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cut $35 million in culture grants, leaving arts organizations across the state clambering for funding. Washington State, where I live, acknowledged the critical role of arts education by passing Senate Bill 5878 in 2022. The legislation requires consistent arts education in schools beginning in the 2023–24 academic year. However, the bill didn’t solve one major issue: the lack of specific allocation for funding its execution.
As the academic year shifts into high gear, we have seen numerous schools grapple with financial constraints, which hamper their ability to support arts education and force them to make difficult decisions, such as reducing or eliminating existing programs. In Seattle and around the country, these cuts disproportionately affect low-income schools and students of color, exacerbated by pre-existing disparities of equity and access.
Integrating Pop Culture and Educational Equity
Amid these constraints, museums nationwide can expand their roles by developing accessible programs that reflect their communities’ cultural and socioeconomic diversity. With recent legislative efforts, such as the curricula law in Washington mandating the inclusion of LGBTQ+ history, museums have an increased responsibility to promote educational equity. MoPOP’s commitment extends through initiatives like the Youth Advisory Board and outreach programs, ensuring that educational offerings are shaped by and for the communities they intend to serve.
Museums should also invest in digital initiatives such as remote tours, online educational programs, and student clubs. At MoPOP, we’re particularly proud of our programs that integrate pop culture into educational curricula. Pop culture acts as the hook to engage students in our workshops and lesson plans, which incorporate themes like gaming and the hero’s journey. We also offer sensory-friendly programs designed for visitors who benefit from a low-sensory museum environment. Through these initiatives, students come away with a deeper understanding of society and its complexities.
What We Do From Here
In the face of growing disparities in education, school systems must recognize the vital role museums play in enriching students’ learning experiences. Museums, in turn, should prioritize offering key resources to educators and students alike.
With the support of school administrators, educators can provide students with access to diverse perspectives and narratives by incorporating museum field trips and digital archives into their curricula. Integrating these resources into existing educational frameworks will offer invaluable opportunities for students to build empathy, practice critical thinking, and develop cultural awareness.
For example, our There Be Dragons: Using Images to Inspire Creative Writing program encourages students to explore science-fiction and fantasy art to inspire their own storytelling. Students in grades five through eight practice visual thinking skills as they analyze images, interpret their meaning, and apply these insights to world-building and character-development activities. Programs like this empower students to engage with creative expression in ways that combine artistic interpretation with language arts, creating a multidisciplinary learning experience that goes beyond what classrooms typically offer.
At the same time, educators working within museum community engagement departments play a pivotal role in ensuring that schools are at the forefront of these initiatives. By centering educators’ needs and perspectives, museums can strengthen their partnerships with schools, facilitate meaningful collaborations, and co-create programs that will have a lasting impact, offering more than just one-time field trips. Museums should collaborate with schools to tailor programs to meet specific educational needs, creating sustained engagement that enriches the curriculum. This can include co-developing lesson plans with teachers, offering professional development workshops, and providing access to museum collections that complement classroom learning.
As we navigate the challenges of a complex political landscape, let’s seize the potential of museums as catalysts for positive change in education. Let’s champion the integration of museum resources into school curricula and prioritize collaboration between educators and cultural institutions. Together, we can ensure students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives they need to thrive in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.
