Nombreux changements à la tête des musées américains (1)
The article reports on recent leadership changes at major American museums, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. These appointments come amid political pressure on the Smithsonian following Donald Trump's reelection, with a federal decree in spring 2025 and an audit of eight of its 21 museums. The institution has been ordered to replace what is deemed "divisive or ideologically oriented language" with "unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions" to "restore truth and coherence to American history," especially ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding.
These changes matter because they reflect a broader political struggle over the content and mission of major cultural institutions in the United States. The Smithsonian, though an independent trust, receives 62% of its funding from the federal government and reports to Congress, making it vulnerable to political directives. The involvement of Vice President J.D. Vance, tasked by Trump with blocking spending on exhibitions that "undermine shared American values," signals an escalating conflict between cultural institutions and the executive branch over historical narrative and ideological neutrality.