Spotlight on Curating for Change: Championing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Museums

Hello folks, I’m excited to share with you one of my recent projects that truly stands out for its impact and importance. This time, it's all about radically progressing EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) in museums with Curating for Change.

Esther at work, Photo credit: Kate Noble

The Challenge

Curating for Change is an incredible initiative that promotes and develops routes for d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse curators, who are currently seriously under-represented in museums. Over the last couple of years I have been providing live illustration at their Museum Partners Network meetings online and in-person. The programme culminated in a celebration event at the Imperial War Museum London where they launched their next phase: Curating Visibility.

The Process

The events were a blend of traditional pen-on-paper illustration and digital capture. The setting at the Imperial War Museum was particularly fitting for creating visuals that resonated with the rich history and significance of the venue. I worked closely with the Curating for Change team to ensure the illustrations captured the essence of their mission and the highlights of their discussions.

The Outcome

The live illustrations served as powerful visual summaries of the key points discussed during the events. These visuals not only helped in real-time understanding but also provided lasting documentation that the team could refer back to. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants appreciating how the illustrations brought the discussions to life.

Thank you Emily for this wonderful testimonial:

Emily Goff, Curating for Change Project Manager

“We have worked closely with Esther to capture graphic minutes for our museum sector forums. These are often complex and multi-faceted events, which Esther has been able to digest succinctly into eye-catching, fun, and visually descriptive minutes.

Esther has illustrated live for us at forums, which has added an extra level of access to delegates who process information visually. Her beautiful visual representations have almost become a brand identity for us, as we use her images to enhance our written sector action plans, website and social media profiles.”

Photo credit: Kate Noble

Looking Ahead

Curating for Change continues to make strides in creating inclusive pathways in the museum sector. It was a privilege to be part of their journey and to help amplify their message through visual storytelling. I look forward to seeing how these initiatives unfold and the positive changes they will bring to the cultural landscape.

Contact me if you’d like to explore live illustration and graphic recording as part of your events. I’m available for both in-person and online events.

Explain it visually, see it differently!

Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring stories. Until next time!