The Getty Foundation launched a $2.7m grant initiative dubbed New Interpretations to support 11 museums across the United States and abroad in rethinking language, accessibility, and community engagement for visitors, The Art Newspaper reported. The funding aims to move institutions beyond traditional wall texts and labels by prioritizing research, collaboration, and tech-forward approaches to enrich the visitor experience.
Eleven Museums Selected for Visitor-Centred Research Grants
Heather E. MacDonald, senior programme officer of the Getty Foundation, told The Art Newspaper that the foundation sought institutions with a proven dedication to visitor-centred research.
M+ and Walker Art Center Expand Public-Facing Projects
The Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul and M+ in Hong Kong will host early public-facing projects backed by the initiative. This includes a major international gathering scheduled at M+ in December 2026 to convene museum professionals for discussions on new approaches to interpretation and visitor engagement across Asia. Meanwhile, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis continues developing visitor guides and wall texts in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali—an effort launched in 2024. The project relies on partnerships with Twin Cities communities to ensure interpretive texts reflect local voices.
First Americans Museum and Denver Art Museum Tackle New Frontiers
In Oklahoma City, the First Americans Museum will employ a fellow to conduct visitor surveys focused on Native American audiences, producing a report on how museums can integrate Indigenous knowledge and authority into exhibitions. The findings will inform a 2030 exhibition commemorating the bicentennial of the Indian Removal Act. In Denver, the art museum will commission a research firm to study artificial intelligence and its impact on visitors through on-site surveys and panels. The project follows an essay published earlier this year by the museum’s interpretive team on the American Alliance of Museum’s website titled “A Colossal Mirror: Museums as a Refuge for the Real in the Age of AI,” which addresses authenticity and institutional positions on AI. Earlier this year, the Denver Art Museum removed a ChatGPT-generated illustration of a Buddhist statue following visitor backlash.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Getty Initiative
How much funding did the Getty Foundation commit to the New Interpretations initiative?
The Getty Foundation allocated $2.7m to support 11 museums in the United States and abroad for projects that rethink language, accessibility, and community engagement.
What specific languages is the Walker Art Center incorporating into its visitor guides?
The Walker Art Center is developing visitor guides and wall texts in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali through consultations with Twin Cities communities, building on an initiative it began in 2024.
When is the international gathering at M+ scheduled to take place?
M+ in Hong Kong and the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul will host an international gathering in December 2026 to bring museum professionals together to discuss visitor engagement in Asia.
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