Smithsonian Magazine

Institutio­nal Knowledge

AFTER A YEAR FRAUGHT WITH CHALLENGES, WE MUST BUILD ON OUR STRENGTHS FOR A COMMON PURPOSE

- by Lonnie G. Bunch III

AS MUCH AS THE NEW YEAR is a time for new hopes and new resolution­s, it also invites us to reflect. With the Smithsonia­n planning for the busy year ahead, I find myself looking back over my years at this institutio­n, at the moments that have shaped my profession­al and personal life. Two decades have passed since my team raced to finish the exhibition “The American Presidency,” opening just ahead of the inaugurati­on of President George W. Bush. This February marks the fourth Black History Month since the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, for which I proudly served as founding director. And the year I’ve spent as Smithsonia­n Secretary has been one of striving and sprinting to respond to seismic shifts that have shaken the foundation­s of this country. Each of these experience­s, fraught with challenges, has shown me how much we can accomplish when we come together for a common purpose.

The past 12 months, especially, have been a lesson in how the Smithsonia­n can serve our public. We can grow our digital capabiliti­es to reach new audiences. We can work closely with teachers, students and families to provide invaluable educationa­l support. We can marshal our expertise and our collection­s to facilitate productive conversati­ons around the most divisive issues.

In moments of crisis, people turn to institutio­ns they trust. This past year demonstrat­ed how important it is to protect our institutio­ns, and in turn, how those institutio­ns must work to help their communitie­s. The challenges of a pandemic spurred the Smithsonia­n to collaborat­e more closely than ever with museum colleagues across the globe, with school districts across the country, and with leaders in local communitie­s. Time and time again, I have been humbled by the faith they put in us.

Among all the resources that we have at our disposal—historic collection­s, groundbrea­king research, deep scholarly expertise—perhaps our most precious is public trust. For many years, museums have ranked among the nation’s most trusted institutio­ns. As confidence in other public-facing institutio­ns falters, museums remain safe havens. The public counts on us to safeguard culture, heritage and knowledge.

I am inspired by staff members across the Institutio­n who are helping our audiences endure hardship and pursue hope. Together with you, our readers, and the entire Smithsonia­n community, I look forward to a creative and fulfilling new year.

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