Metropolitan Museum of Art (02:08)

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in New York City. For the first time in its 150-year history, it closed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020 called the museum's past and future into question.

Gerhard Richter's Exhibit (03:12)

Curator removed an exhibit of 100 works in July 2020 after being open to the public for nine days. Richter was a teenager during World War II and his work covered racial injustice and human inequality.

MET and Racism (07:19)

The MET reopened in August 2020 and, for the first time in decades, only served New Yorkers. An open letter addressed to the MET criticized its racism. Leadership created a plan to address racism and inequity throughout the museum.

MET and Education (03:44)

As part of its commitment to anti-racism, the MET created many labels for works explaining the context. Several in the gallery were paintings of George Washington.

MET and Representation (06:00)

In 2018, the MET commissioned two murals from Native American artist Kent Monkman. He reimagines colonialist paintings from a Native perspective.

MET and Political Art (06:26)

The MET prepares a portrait that was altered to hide wealth after the French Revolution. The museum views its curation choices as political acts that need to reflect the times.

MET and Diversity (02:46)

The process to increase the diversity of art and artist has been slow. Diverse live performances pieces, like the one by Lee Mingwei, have increased.

MET's American Wing (03:25)

The wing has been diversifying its collection to make it less centered on a white, male history for the United States. The museum has been bringing in different perspectives to explain the pieces. The museum now has a Native American art curator.

MET and African Art (05:39)

The museum tries to show the splendor of African history to Americans, who are usually only taught about slavery. The MET borrows exhibits from museums in Africa.

MET and Indigenous Art (03:51)

The museum initially rejected the collection that is now in the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Wing, calling it history. The collection was only recognized as art in the 1980s; it has sparked a debate about repatriation.

MET and Repatriation (06:18)

Puerto Rican artist Miguel Luciano feels conflicted about the limit and colonialist framework of some pieces in the MET. He reimagines art in the community from which it came.

MET's Future (05:28)

The MET works to address its racist and colonialist past and to better understand its privilege as an organization. The museum wants art to be for everyone and for everyone to feel welcome.

Credits: All Things to All People? (00:32)

Credits: All Things to All People?