The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s first nationwide survey to assess the gender and ethnic diversity of American art museum staffs reveals a significant movement towards gender equality within the art museum world. In partnership with the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the survey provides the first statistical baseline against which progress in the museum field can be measured.

Among its chief findings, the survey noted a universal move toward gender equality, with women now compromising approximately 60 percent of museum staff. Women predominantly hold curatorial, conservation, and education roles that can be a pipeline toward leadership positions. Although 28 percent of museum staffs are from minority backgrounds, the survey found no such pipeline to leadership positions. The majority of minority staff work in security, facilities, finance, and human resources. Only 4 percent of museum curators, conservators, educators, and leaders are African American, and only 3 percent are Hispanic.

Research organization Ithaka S+R conducted the survey, compiling information from 181 art museums. Survey results were first presented at the annual AAMD meeting in June. The Mellon Foundation intends to conduct follow-up diversity studies to better assess progress.