A Q&A WITH JULIA LI FOR ALL

Director of Inclusion and Belonging Julia Li provides an overview of her work helping the museum achieve its Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) goals.

Broadly speaking, what does DEAI work aim to accomplish?

We’re aiming to develop a more inclusive culture: a place where everyone feels like they are represented. Inclusion and belonging are key to helping people see themselves, both in the context of various cultures and of America itself.

What is unique about DEAI at the Asian Art Museum?

One of our board members described the Asian Art Museum as a “living room” for the community. It’s a physical space that folks from all different backgrounds can come into and appreciate. Artists and culture really set the narrative and the conversation, and at the Asian Art Museum, we’re not only showcasing art from 5,000 years ago to the present; we’re a beacon, illuminating a multitude of identities. We elevate artists and stories that can foster empathy and a greater appreciation of our nation’s diversity. That includes speaking to the experiences of new Americans, as well as those of individuals from communities worldwide.

The Asian Art Museum is helping to continuously redefine what it means to be an American and to feel that one belongs and is being seen. Many in the Asian American experience will tell you that living in America can feel like constantly being silenced. Our museum serves as a platform for their voices to be heard and celebrated.

What kind of DEAI programs are on the horizon?

I think of DEAI at the museum as involving three pillars: our people, our museum, and our greater community. This first year is focused on laying the basic foundations for DEAI work through people programs. These are internal programs — including Affinity Groups, an annually rotating DEAI Council, and a quarterly series of DEAI workshops for staff, docents, and volunteers — with an emphasis on powerful listening, engaging in healthy dialogue, and prioritizing the staff’s psychological safety.

The second aspect considers who we are as an institution and how that contributes to a sense of belonging, whether by reexamining the history of objects in our collection, or by showcasing contemporary artists with powerful stories to tell. For example, bringing the story of Chanel Miller to a greater audience; or our Carlos Villa show, which was the first time a major museum had showcased a Filipino American artist; or Kongkee: Warring States Cyberpunk, one of the first times I’ve seen an exhibition that’s reaching out to a younger audience while also taking historical lore and modernizing it.

The third pillar comprises our relationships with our neighbors in San Francisco and the Bay Area, as well as with travelers from countries around the world. I believe if we meet the needs of our staff first — addressing any inequalities or unheard voices within the organization — we can go on to make a more meaningful difference in the greater community. n