Fireside Chat, Interview
A Conversation with Mark Bradford and Michael Govan
- The 21st century will prioritize potential ("what can be") over normative constraints, characterized by an explosive growth of ideas within diverse communities and a singular identity for artists that transcends the "artist/activist" dichotomy.
- LACMA plans to expand its reach beyond its immediate locale through partnerships, such as with East Los Angeles College, anticipating a mental shift comparable to or greater than capabilities existing 20 years prior to enable artwork in new communities.
- Public engagement strategies will favor open conversation and community listening over directive instruction, aiming to change societal perceptions of museums and integrate art directly into community life.
- Future institutional efforts will integrate identity centers with civic pride, utilizing culture as a vehicle for equity that explicitly addresses personal history, lineage, and the material aspects of money and job titles.
- The execution of these plans acknowledges that the transition process will be inherently messy, requiring stakeholders to accept disorder while individuals with sincere intentions persist.
- Long-term outcomes rely on finding shared humanity and passion, with a specific expectation that future generations may require preserved cultural artifacts and history.
- Artists intend to follow genuine personal investigations, including politics, without strict pre-planned strategies, expecting philanthropy and artistic work to remain integrated identities rather than separate entities.
- The art world anticipates becoming "exciting" again through increased diversity and inclusion, moving away from a perceived "boring" past while bridging gaps to allow people to move between contexts and determine outcomes.