Can performance art bridge the gap between museum collections and the communities they represent?
In short: Rashida Bumbray, a Civic Practice Partnership artist-in-residence at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, explores how performance can revitalize museum objects and address the complex, often traumatic history embedded in cultural institutions.
As a performance artist and choreographer, Bumbray’s work examines Black urban spaces and the generational trauma held within them. During her residency from 2017 to 2021, she staged activations within The Met’s African and Egyptian art galleries, aiming to breathe new life into the historical objects housed there. Her practice challenges the traditional museum experience, acknowledging the complicated relationship between institutions and the people whose heritage is stored within their walls.
The Civic Practice Partnership, launched in 2017, facilitates these collaborations by connecting neighborhood stakeholders with socially minded artists. Bumbray’s contributions included a film for the 100 Years, 100 Women Project, marking the anniversary of women's suffrage, and a second film project. Her work highlights the potential for museums to evolve from static repositories into active participants in community health and dialogue.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Rashida Bumbray | Civic Practice Partnership, 2017–2021
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