Institutional Culture and Civic Responsibility
ICCR ensures that the museum experience is open and meaningful to all individuals, regardless of background, ability, or historic barriers.
Duncan Phillips’s belief that “art is a part of the social purpose of the world” guides the museum’s commitment to belonging, representation, accessibility, acceptance, and equity. Upholding this vision, The Phillips Collection strives to be a trusted community connector for art, inspiration, and engagement.
The Department of Institutional Culture and Civic Responsibility (ICCR) ensures that The Phillips Collection—its buildings, programs, and services—remains accessible and responsive to all audiences. Rooted in principles of fairness, the department provides training, education, and support to help identify and remove barriers, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The ICCR department advances its mission through initiatives such as:
- Celebrating Cultural Distinctiveness: Supporting programs that highlight the artistic contributions of diverse regional and national communities.
- Promoting Cultural Awareness: Ensuring communications and public engagement reflect and respect the values of broad communities.
- Advocating for Artistic Freedom: Encouraging exhibitions and partnerships that elevate a wide spectrum of voices.
- Curatorial Collaboration: Partnering with curators to design exhibitions that inspire civic dialogue and intellectual engagement.
- Championing Inclusive Recruitment: Attracting and retaining staff whose backgrounds and values reflect the museum’s commitment to excellence and inclusion.
- Providing Professional Development: Offering training that fosters psychological safety, cultural sensitivity, and engagement with diverse communities.
- Partnering with Mission-Aligned Vendors: Collaborating with vendors who share the museum’s values and commitment to equity.
As a leader in advancing accessibility and cultural engagement, the department ensures that the museum experience is open and meaningful to all individuals, regardless of background, ability, or historical barriers.
Kennedy Center Office of Accessibility and VSA staff visiting The Phillips Collection after a presentation on accessibility.
Phillip Collection Fellows sitting outside of the museum after a recent intern and fellow gathering.
Guests decorating fans and flags during Phillips after 5: Party with Pride
Opening reception for The Artist’s Experience: From Brotherman to Batman at Phillips@THEARC
Melvin Hardy (Millennium Art Salon) and Elsa Smithgall (Phillips Collection) lead a tour of Jacob Lawrence and the Children of Hiroshima.
Land Acknowledgement
The Phillips Collection is a community of artistic expressions of diverse people, situated on the ancestral and unceded homelands of Piscataway and Nacotchtank (Anacostan) peoples. The area we know as Washington, DC, was rich in natural resources and supported local native people living there. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present. It is within The Phillips Collection’s responsibility as a cultural institution to disseminate knowledge about Indigenous peoples and this acknowledgment reminds us of the significance of place and the museum’s commitment to building respectful relationships with those who call these lands home today.
Paid Internships and Fellowships
The Phillips Collection’s paid internship and paid fellowship program serves as a pipeline of future museum professionals from underrepresented populations and others who have experienced barriers to entry in the field. These unique opportunities make the pathway to museum employment more accessible to students as they pursue a career in the museum field. It is our aim to foster a professional community that reflects the breadth of our diverse society.
