Sandra Jackson-Dumont, director and CEO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, discusses her career and vision for transforming museums in an interview for Artnet News's series on women shaping the art industry. She reflects on her roles at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, emphasizing the need for internal institutional change to address structural inequities around gender, race, pay, and professional growth.
Jackson-Dumont argues that museums must integrate with the world to remain relevant, warning that failure to adapt will lead to obsolescence. Her insights highlight systemic challenges in the art world, including discrimination, funding shortfalls, and the need for transparent compensation frameworks, underscoring the urgency of cultural leadership and community-centered practices for institutional survival.