The Kent State University Museum is home to historical fashion pieces as well as an array of student work. Museum Director Sarah Rogers works to ensure that the museum focuses on inclusivity and social justice through the pieces displayed and artists behind them.
A recent article from The New York Times explored the lack of diversity in fashion museums across the world. Placing Kent State among the top fashion institutions in the world, the article featured Rogers and her efforts to create an inclusive and diverse collection in the museum.
In September, the Costume Society of America hosted the webinar “Tackling Tokenism and Diversity in Our Museum Collections,” where Rogers spoke on the issues of racism and underrepresentation among Black fashion designers in museums.
“Be honest about who you have been, what you have in your collections, and how they are organized,” Rogers said in the webinar.
The Kent State University Museum strives to be honest with itself. Recently, the National Endowment for the Arts granted the museum $35,000 for the "TEXTURES: The History and Art of Black Hair" exhibition, which will open in September 2021. The exhibition features modern artwork and historic artifacts including advertising and hair products.
The museum previously featured a "Wearing Justice" exhibition, bringing attention to current social justice issues in light of the 50 year anniversary of the May 4 shootings.
To read the full story in the New York Times, visit www.nytimes.com/2020/09/29/style/museums-fashion-racism.html