The Next Gen Trustee: Victoria Rogers
Now is the time for transformation, and a chance for the next generation to shape the future of what a cultural institution can be and stand for.
5 QUESTIONS WITH Victoria Rogers
Creative Business Strategist; Collector; Trustee
New York City
Victoria Rogers is a creative business strategist living in NYC. Victoria is a MFA Candidate at Parsons, art collector, Trustee at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Creative Time, and Co-chairwoman, Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums.
1. Please tell me about launching the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums, and the Alliance’s top actionable priority at this very moment.
Conversations amongst black trustees are not new, but this is the first time in history that black museum Board directors have formed this type of coalition. We’re creating a community of black art museum trustees who will support one another, artists, black museum leadership and staff. The Alliance is in its early stages of development and expects to grow over time. It has been exciting so far to be a part of an intergenerational group committed to the development of more equitable, and excellent, institutions.
2. You have said of the Alliance’s launch, “It’s essential that museums begin to reflect the artistic and cultural diversity of this nation.” Amen. We know from research that rising generation funders prioritize social justice. Do you plan to rally rising philanthropists to join you on this crucial mission, and what is the importance of next gen involvement in the arts at this moment?
Arts institutions that more accurately reflect the country and their communities’ demographics will fundamentally elevate the quality of those museums, increase community engagement, and, ultimately, strengthen these institutions for the future. Museums are open to the possibility of radical transformation—between the difficulty of managing an institution through COVID-19 and our new world, to the important calls for inclusivity, I believe institutions are recognizing the need for change. Now is the time for transformation, and a chance for the next generation to shape the future of what a cultural institution can be and stand for.
3. As we have seen a crescendo of calls for systemic change across society and in the cultural sector, what are some examples of the best responses by the industry (or by particular entities) and what must it do better?
I believe the best examples are those institutions that have been committed to equity and inclusion for many decades, not simply the past several months. The Studio Museum in Harlem is an example of excellence—from the institution’s commitment to hiring a diverse staff, to the industry leading work the museum has done to support and train the next generation of cultural leaders. I believe that our current moment is an opportunity to look to institutions such as the Studio Museum for a blueprint from which the rest of the industry can learn.
4. Arts Funders Forum (AFF) research shows that the cultural sector has been experiencing a crisis of relevancy, and there is a belief that this is a result of underdeveloped narratives. How should the cultural sector best articulate and message art’s role in society to the general public, especially to better resonate with younger audiences and funders… In other words, what are the stories we should be telling?
Artists and writers give context to our lives and culture, and cultural institutions reflect which creators are valued and celebrated. This essential work shapes how we as a culture see ourselves, and how future generations will see us too. One of the most powerful ways to address inequality is through the arts. I believe that museums can draw younger audiences in by including them in the work of imagining, dreaming, and believing in new futures that are at the center of the cultural sector.
5. Looking at the established systems of cultural philanthropy and patronage, what is ONE critical thing institutions can do right NOW to change how they engage stakeholders?
I would change the language from engaging stakeholders to one of co-creation—opening the door to conversation with the communities they service is the one critical thing institutions can do right now.
Victoria Rogers is a creative business strategist living in NYC. Victoria is a MFA Candidate at Parsons, art collector, Trustee at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Creative Time, and Co-chairwoman, Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums.