About the CMA

Art and Inclusion  

One of the many wonderful things about art is its role in building empathy. At the CMA we continue to offer art that not only celebrates the diversity of the human experience but causes us to reflect on the work that is still to be done toward equity and healing. Our deliberate DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion) work aspires to generate moments of listening, reflection, learning, and advancement.  
 
As a team, we continue our path of vulnerable learning and nurturing mutual growth. We are examining what we’re doing well and what we’re not. We are focused on living our core values and being an inclusive arts organization that is welcoming and inspiring to our own staff and to the public we serve.

We are committed to making this work evident in the art you see, the programs you attend, and the experience you have every time you visit the CMA.  
 
A few of the things we’re most excited right now about are:  

• Partnering with the University of South Carolina Center for Civil Rights History and Research and Columbia SC 63: Our Story Matters to create the Our Story Matters Gallery, an exhibition and program space devoted to the rich Civil Rights history of Main Street, Washington Street, and the wider Columbia community (opening August 2023)
   
• Partnering with Able SC to conduct a building audit in June 2023 and provide trainings for staff, educating us on the realities of the physical and experiential barriers people with disabilities can face and giving us tools to understand how to remove those obstacles   
   
• Working with citizens of the Catawba nation to center Catawba voices in every aspect of the summer 2023 exhibition Resurgence and Renaissance: Art of the Catawba Nation Since 1973.  
   
• 100% of the CMA Collection galleries today include work by women, Black artists, Indigenous artists, LGBTQ+ artists, or other artists of color. (ongoing)
   
• In the past five years, 58% of all exhibitions have been exclusively by women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQ+ artists. (ongoing)

Our DEAI work is not a sprint, it’s a relay where teamwork achieves successes. To learn more about our work in this area, choose a year below to see a more detailed report.

More 2023 Active DEAI Work

One of the many wonderful things about art is its role in building empathy. At the CMA we continue to offer art that not only celebrates the diversity of the human experience but causes us to reflect on the work that is still to be done toward equity and healing. Our deliberate DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion) work aspires to generate moments of listening, reflection, learning, and advancement.  
 
As a team, we continue our path of vulnerable learning and nurturing mutual growth. We are examining what we’re doing well and what we’re not. We are focused on living our core values and being an inclusive arts organization that is welcoming and inspiring to our own staff and to the public we serve.

We are committed to making this work evident in the art you see, the programs you attend, and the experience you have every time you visit the CMA.

 A few of the things we’re most excited right now about are:  

• Partnering with the University of South Carolina Center for Civil Rights History and Research and Columbia SC 63: Our Story Matters to create the Our Story Matters Gallery, an exhibition and program space devoted to the rich Civil Rights history of Main Street, Washington Street, and the wider Columbia community (opening August 2023)   
• Partnering with Able SC to conduct a building audit in June 2023 and provide trainings for staff, educating us on the realities of the physical and experiential barriers people with disabilities can face and giving us tools to understand how to remove those obstacles   
• Working with citizens of the Catawba nation to center Catawba voices in every aspect of the summer 2023 exhibition Resurgence and Renaissance: Art of the Catawba Nation Since 1973.  
• 100% of the CMA Collection galleries today include work by women, Black artists, Indigenous artists, LGBTQ+ artists, or other artists of color. (ongoing)
• Conducting staff cultural competency trainings prior to exhibitions, content areas changes, and programs. (ongoing)
• In the past five years, 58% of all exhibitions have been exclusively by women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQ+ artists. (ongoing)  
• The CMA completed a comprehensive review of the CMA Employee Handbook in January 2023, with defined work culture expectations and compliance with all laws and regulations.  
• The CMA continues to update compensation salary ranges for every job seat and new hire to ensure pay equity within the organization. (ongoing)
• The CMA discusses how to prioritize our work, goals, and DEAI commitments in every board of trustee engagement and optimization retreat, senior staff planning day, and departmental quarterly strategic planning session. (ongoing) 
• Staff is actively using a dynamic internal DEAI communication platform to share resources, updates, and feedback. (ongoing)
• All education and exhibition materials, art labels, tour scripts, marketing materials, etc. are reviewed to ensure the use of inclusive language. (ongoing)
• With the support of leadership and the CMA DEAI Framework Committee of staff volunteers, each staff member owns their personal role in contributing to a culture where all feel safe, heard, and valued. Staff activates their DEAI work through four access points: formal trainings, conversations, staff-led forums, and staff socials. (ongoing)

Our DEAI work is not a sprint, it’s a relay where teamwork achieves successes.

2022 Active DEAI Work

All people deserve equal opportunities. Racism, classism, ableism, misogyny, LGBTQ+ rights opposition, and actions that make anyone feel less than erode the potential of our communities and what we can accomplish together.
 
One of the many wonderful things about art is its role in healing. At the CMA we continue to offer art that not only celebrates diversity but causes us to reflect on the work that is still to be done toward equity and healing. Through deliberate work, we aspire to generate moments of reflection, learning, and advancement.  
 
As a team, we continue our path of vulnerable learning and nurturing mutual growth. We are examining what we’re doing well and what we’re not. We are focused on living our values and being an inclusive arts organization that is welcoming and inspiring to the public we serve.
 
Our ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility work includes:

 

• 100% of the CMA Collection galleries today include work by women, Black artists, Indigenous artists, artists of color, and/or LGBTQ+ artists. 
• In the past five years, 48% of all exhibitions have been exclusively by women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQ+ artists. 
• The recent exhibition 22 South Carolinians, on view 12/2/21—5/22/22, celebrated 48 works of art by 22 Black artists with roots in South Carolina.  
• As a vehicle to foster staff participation in discussions, field trips, speakers, research, feedback, and conversations around DEAI topics, the CMA has hosted regular group time since summer 2020. These opportunities for growth, reflection, and change are yielding positive results both inside and outside the museum walls.  
• Four staff members, including senior staff and upper-level managers, completed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate online program at the University of South Florida in spring 2021.
• Also last spring, staff completed a survey, conducted by an outside consultant, to identify areas for improvement, growth, and learning in DEAI at the museum.
• Last summer, the CMA conducted community listening sessions in preparation for the fall 2021 exhibition 30 Americans. 
• Last fall, 20 employees completed a six-week Effective Equity training program facilitated by the Collaborative on Race at the University of South Carolina. 
• The CMA strategic plan prioritizes staff and board leadership's long-term commitment to DEAI work. Planning is active January – June 2022 for board engagement and optimization work to align with CMA strategic plan goals. 
• Senior staff are working with the CMA DEAI working group and legal counsel on the CMA Employee Handbook to update culture and policies to comply with laws, regulations, and workplace conditions and to remove potential biases. 
• The CMA has established compensation salary ranges and internal pay equity for all staff and continues hiring in this structure.
• All education and exhibition materials — art labels, tour scripts, marketing materials, etc. — are reviewed to ensure the use of inclusive language and images.
• With the support of leadership and one another, each staff member owns their role in contributing to a culture where all visitors and staff feel safe, heard, and valued.

Our DEAI work is not a sprint, it’s a relay where teamwork achieves successes. Check back quarterly to read about DEAI work in your art museum. I hope you will visit very soon — we look forward to welcoming you.

Della Watkins, executive director 

 

2021 Active DEAI Work

In my fourth year as executive director for the Columbia Museum of Art, I can look back on many accomplishments this team has achieved, from the complete facility renovation, AAM reaccreditation, the record-setting attendance during the Van Gogh and His Inspirations show, to the flexible and caring way our team continues to deliver programming during the ongoing pandemic. These efforts have been nothing short of extraordinary.
 
Of important note is the work our team had undertaken before my tenure and that continues today. That is the work of inclusivity and making sure everyone feels welcome at the CMA. 
 
All people deserve equal opportunities. Black lives deeply matter, and racism, classism, and actions that make anyone feel less than erode the potential of our communities and what we can accomplish together. 
 
One of the many wonderful things about art is its role in healing. At the CMA we continue to offer art that not only celebrates diversity but causes us to reflect on the work that is still to be done toward equity and healing. Our deliberate work aspires to generate moments of reflection, learning, and advancement.  
 
As a team, we continue our path of vulnerable learning and nurturing mutual growth. We are examining what we’re doing well and what we’re not. We are focused on living our values and being an inclusive arts organization that is welcoming and inspiring to the public we serve.
 
Our ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility work includes:  

• Upon reopening after the renovation in 2018, the CMA reinstalled all the collection galleries thematically allowing for 50% of the galleries to include art by women and Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC). 
• The CMA has established compensation salary ranges and internal pay equity for all staff.
• In the past five years, 34% of all exhibitions have been exclusively by women and BIPOC artists. 
• All education and exhibition materials, art labels, tour scripts, marketing materials, etc. are reviewed to ensure the use of inclusive language.
• As an organization, we actively engage in DEAI work with the board, staff, and volunteers while engaging stakeholders and communities.
• In spring 2021, the museum conducted a staff diversity and inclusion insight survey.
• The Collection Policy and Employee Handbook are under revision to remove potential biases.
• The current strategic plan prioritizes staff and board leadership's long-term commitment to DEAI work, including benchmarks and action steps.
• With the support of leadership and the CMA DEAI Working Group, each staff member owns their role in contributing to a culture where all feel safe, heard, and valued.

Our DEAI work is not a sprint, it’s a relay where teamwork achieves successes. Stay tuned for regular DEAI updates from your art museum. I hope you will visit very soon — we look forward to welcoming you.  

Della Watkins, executive director 

Something is always happening at the CMA.

We've enjoyed these recent experiences, and we hope you'll join us for future programs!