Trump administration calls for ‘comprehensive review’ of 8 Smithsonian museums : NPR
The White House told the Smithsonian that she wanted to see eight of her museums again to make sure they aligned themselves with Trump’s cultural guidelines. NPR speaks with the professor of the University of Georgetown, Lisa Strong.
Michel Martin, host:
The Trump administration says that it will examine eight of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution. In a letter at the head of the institution, the managers of the White House say that they want to be sure that museums reflect the quote, “Unity, progress and sustainable values that define American history”. The letter continued by saying that the initiative aims to align with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, suppress division or supporters and restore confidence in our common cultural institutions. In a declaration at NPR, the Smithsonian says that he examines the letter while keeping in the sound, Cit, “Commitment to learned excellence, rigorous research and the precise factual presentation of history”, unquil.
For reaction, we called Lisa Fort. She is a professor of art history and director of the MA museum art and studies program at Georgetown University. She was kind enough to join us in our Washington studios. Good morning. Thank you for joining us.
Lisa Strong: Thank you for inviting me.
Martin: What was your reaction when you read this letter as a museum professional?
Strong: Disappointment and concern. Admittedly, I think that the most important thing for museum professionals is the integrity of their research, and you do not want any interference in the content of the equipment you present to the public.
Martin: Do you experience this, or you – Do you hear it as an interference?
Strong: I’m, yes. I mean, if you look at the letter, under the section of the letter which says what must be accomplished in a hundred and twenty days, these are changes in the content. I mean, that – I think that if you go to the dentist, you don’t want the government to stand on the shoulder saying, you should use this or this exercise. I mean, you must have independence in the exhibitions they presented. And scrupulous research is what – I mean, I think, the public does not realize how many research takes place in a simple exhibition label. You can spend weeks, even by ensuring that the paint title is correct, or the date is correct. So there are scrupulous research that already goes to the work they do, and have an interference in the way it is interpreted, it is – you know, goes to the heart of what the professionals of the museum do.
Martin: All this initiative seems to talk about the question of what museums are, in particular an institution like the Smithsonian, which receives private funding but is a national institution. And the journal is – this review owed before the celebration of next year of the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence next year. The idea seems to be that the Trump administration seems to feel that the aim of these institutions is to celebrate the country and celebrate patriotism. Is there something that is not going with that?
Strong: You know, I think that the goal of museums is to do original research, depending on the museum, but also to interpret university research and connect it to collectibles. And everything you do in a museum leaves your collection and your in -depth understanding of objects from your collection that you presented for the public. And I think that museum professionals strongly feel the responsibility to present precise information to the public. And again, which is why it is so worrying that you would have an interference in the content of an exhibition.
Martin: Is it your concern that it will not be correct, that these representations will not be accurate, but that they will be somehow intended for a certain ideology? Is it your concern?
Strong: Exactly. I mean, museum professionals are experts in their field. They know their collection better than any other – a curator knows his collection better than anyone. It is their work to know their collection and interpret it, and it should be done on the basis of the collection and not on the basis of the government standing above your shoulder and saying, I think you should say this or that.
Martin: So we have about 30 seconds left. How would you like the public to react to this, assuming that, you know, the museum officials have resigned, you know, and-or have you said to resign within the framework of this administration so far? What do you do-how do you want the public to answer this?
Strong: survey after survey has shown that museums are one of the most reliable institutions, and a recent AAM survey shows that museums are only reliable in front of the friends and parents of people. Museums must maintain public confidence, and they do it through the independence of thought.
Martin: It’s Lisa Strong. She is a professor of art history at the University of Georgetown. Professor Strong, thank you very much for joining us.
Strong: Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Michel.
(Soundbite of the song of the Dream Academy, “Please, please let me get what I want”)
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