Bell Museum Diversity and Inclusion
We believe it is essential to create an environment that welcomes and empowers people from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities to have equitable access to the museum’s resources as well as opportunities to transform our work. The Bell Museum welcomes all people regardless of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or other protected identity.
The history of museums, including ours, is one grounded in colonialism and discrimination. We recognize that our very foundations are rooted in the occupation and appropriation of Indigenous land and violence to natural resources. As a society, we have not fully attended to the difficult truths of our own past and that, in turn, has made this museum, like others, a less inclusive place than it should be. We strive to be a safe and familiar place for all. Read more about the history of collections here.
Our work in research, education, and outreach is accomplished when these values inform all activities of the museum, including:
- Hiring, recruitment, retention, and advancement of staff and volunteers
- Research, collections, and participation in the scientific community
- Selecting and evaluating program and exhibition content
- Providing meaningful opportunities to participate in planning and leadership
Our Commitment
As Minnesota’s museum of natural history, the Bell Museum commits to:
- Understanding and acknowledging the history and current practices of museums, science, and education, and revealing where systemic racism and ongoing discrimination make these fields inaccessible and less safe for all people to participate in and contribute to.
- Auditing and improving our public engagement and research programs to ensure they are grounded in equity and amplify the voices of those whose contributions have not been valued or heard.
- Creating an inclusive environment for staff, student employees, volunteers, advisors, visitors, donors, collaborators, program participants, and all others who intersect with the museum.
- Continually examining and challenging our own assumptions, biases, actions, and policies that prevent our positive contributions to a more just and equitable world.
We dedicate the effort, energy, and resources to advance our work to address systemic racism in our museum and world.
