Indigenizing a New Museum: A Case Study from the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

Abstract

To place theory into practice in designing new galleries with an Indigenizing framework, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art staff sought to center Indigenous voices and world views. This article provides an overview of the newly opened Indigenous Art of the Americas suite of galleries at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, located at the University of Notre Dame. It outlines the theoretical tenets that grounded the project, followed by a discussion of the practical implementation of those theoretical tenets. It then offers an overview of the suite of galleries, providing insight into the overarching organizational strategies employed. Specific installations are discussed in greater detail to demonstrate the types of narratives they tell.