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By Amy Karagiannakis
Krannert Art Museum (KAM) played a pivotal role in the 2024 U.S. presidential election season as part of a coalition of 10 public university art museums. This coalition, which includes museums at Michigan State, Penn State, UCLA, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska, University of Oregon, and University of Wisconsin-Madison, aims to highlight the power of art in fostering civic engagement through non-partisan exhibitions and events. Their initiatives aim to promote civic participation, encourage dialogue, and build empathy across political divides.
Krannert Art Museum’s Director Jon Seydl emphasizes the role of art in addressing complex issues.
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The museum’s efforts include a collaborative installation on democracy, social justice, and social movements, with contributions from local high school students and the community. This installation is featured on KAM’s entrance wall during the fall 2024 semester.
Additionally, Krannert Art Museum hosted their inaugural Arts Advocacy Summit this fall, in partnership with local and regional arts advocacy organizations. This event provided training to arts and culture communities of Champaign-Urbana, further highlighting the museum’s commitment to community engagement and civic participation.
The summit convened artists, educators, administrators, and cultural workers to share ideas and strategies for supporting the arts and advocating for local and regional arts organizations. From funding our creative industry to supporting arts educators, advancing arts businesses to promoting pro-arts policies, the Arts Advocacy Summit offers training, skill-sharing, and workshops that position the arts as the cornerstone of a thriving community.
Through these initiatives, the Krannert Art Museum and its coalition partners strive to make a meaningful impact by countering political polarization, exploring democratic values, creating educational opportunities, and driving civic engagement. Their collective efforts demonstrate the essential role that art museums can play in unifying communities and fostering an engaged society during the election season.