HISTORY AND CULTURE MUSEUM / SCHOOL FOR ACTIVISTS

The American LGBTQ+ Museum

NEW YORK, NEW YORK
2018–PRESENT

Currently, there are more than 11 million Americans that identify as LGBTQ+, and the community is growing more rapidly than ever before as younger generations are more likely to identify with traditional, emergent, and adjacent identities. LGBTQ+ people have a long and storied history in New York City and beyond, long predating the Stonewall riots. Yet because of shame, stigma, and prejudice, the unique contributions of LGBTQ+ history has been ignored or erased. To date-despite progress on a range of LGBTQ+ issues-there is no major LGBTQ+ cultural destination in the United States.

AK Cultural Planning was selected to lead an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive Institutional Planning services for the future American LGBTQ+ Museum. We collaborated with partner firms to oversee the execution of two national surveys, interviews with though leaders, and extensive stakeholder engagement across all five NYC boroughs. We analyzed
the market and identified target audiences; developed the Museum's mission, values, programming framework, and identified preliminary attendance and operating budget ranges. Additionally, we directed the creation of the institution’s Design Principles, and assessments of real estate sites, space needs, and estimated capital/construction costs.

The concept and strategy for the Museum is based on rigorous research and engagement of over 3,200 LGBTQ+ community members. Research confirmed significant demand and urgency for:

• Expanding the understanding of LGBTQ+ history and culture, especially among young LGBTQ+ people;

• Preserving LGBTQ+ artifacts and stories that are at risk of being lost;

• Training the next generation of activists;

• Supporting existing archives and libraries to ensure that LGBTQ+ history is told by LGBTQ+ institution

Collaborators included Susan Stryker, PhD, Joel Sanders Architect, Community Marketing & Insights, Landair, Brilliant Idea Studio, and Stuart Lynn Company; and the Board of Trustees with whom we worked very closely. The Board is currently advancing fundraising and seeking an interim space from which to launch pilot programming and grow the institution.