In response to calls for museums to adopt more inclusive and equitable practices, Northwestern University’s Block Museum of Art has explored how grantmaking can support process-driven, community-led projects. Through the development of its exhibition, Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland, the museum has navigated challenges in grant writing for a project shaped by partnerships and Indigenous methodologies. Traditional grant processes often prioritize clearly defined outcomes, but projects like Woven Being require open-ended collaboration and shared authority. This approach raises questions about how to balance uncertainty with a compelling vision for funders while advocating for more flexible and inclusive funding models.
At Northwestern University's Block Museum of Art, an exhibition based on Indigenous methodologies has challenged the traditional approach to fundraising. Here are some of the lessons the museum has learned for its future development work.
