The Association of Danish Museums expresses deep concern as President Trump takes several actions to control and influence American museums. The series of executive orders released by the White House has cut hundreds of millions in funding and is a direct attempt to censor museums and tell them what they can say and exhibit. These executive orders have also attempted to tell the museums who they can hire, who they can honour, and how they should behave in their communities.
The current administration has taken action to eliminate, amongst other agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), who among other things provide grants to libraries, museums and related institutions across the USA.
Museums and libraries are crucial for education, research, culture, and democracy. In an increasingly uncertain and challenging geopolitical situation, museums and libraries represent some of the most trustworthy institutions in society. They serve an important purpose as our collective memory, as well as arenas for free and open speech. Taking action to eliminate a major federal agency dedicated to supporting museums and libraries undermines their critical role and is a serious blow to vital cultural institutions.
With different measures, President Trump aims to control and rewrite history. The Presidential Order “Restoring truth and sanity to American history” seeks to take control of the content and exhibitions presented by museums. This is a clear violation of the ICOM Code of Ethics 1.10 stating: “Regardless of funding source, museums should maintain control of the content and integrity of their programmes, exhibitions and activities.” The ICOM Code of Ethics is an important basis for the work in museums all over the world.
Furthermore, President Trump has given Vice President Vance, as chairman of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, the responsibility to eliminate “improper, decisive, or anti-American ideology from the Smithsonian, encompassing its museums, education and research centers, and National Zoo”. The order specifically names the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the forthcoming Women’s History Museum as institutions subject to review. President Trump also de facto appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts earlier this year, a takeover announced on his own social platform Truth Social.
We must all be on guard towards measures that will limit academic freedom, the museums’ freedom of expression, and their ability to curate content on a free basis. Likewise, diminishing support for the arts and humanities devaluates vital cultural institutions and represents a huge disservice to future generations.
The Association of Danish Museums strongly supports our colleagues in the American Alliance of Museums, and their tireless efforts to champion equitable and impactful museums in the USA.