Museums Using Community Dialogue as a Building Block toward Cultural Competence

Abstract

In 2015–2016, the Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte, North Carolina, featured ¡Nuevolution! Latinx and the New South, an interactive exhibit that explored the bidirectional ways Latinx and the US South influence one another. To strengthen the exhibit’s impact, LMNS launched a dialogue program aimed at enhancing attendees’ cultural competence, as measured through relevant gains in knowledge, acceptance, appreciation, and skills. Sixty-six group dialogs took place with 863 individuals. Results demonstrate evidence of increased knowledge of Latinx in the US South, some appreciation of different cultures, yet fewer proficiencies further along the cultural competence spectrum. Data show a need for additional cultural competence skill building. We see great potential for museums and other cultural institutions to offer carefully constructed programming that pairs exhibits and community dialogue as a tool to build a foundation upon which deeper cultural awareness and competency can grow.

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