A Museum on the March: Neighborhood Circulating Exhibitions at The Met, Their Evolution, Reception, and Influence

Abstract

This essay addresses the Met’s commitment to reaching local communities through circulating exhibitions. It traces the evolution, reception, and influence of the Neighborhood Circulating Exhibitions program, a series of exhibitions sent to public libraries, settlement houses, and high schools in poorer communities around New York City between 1933 and 1942. It also examines the pivotal role played by museum staff in the program’s development and success. The Met’s continued dedication to local communities outside its walls is further demonstrated by discussing later circulating exhibition initiatives, including an exhibition focused on medieval art and culture from the late 1940s. This case study illustrates how objects were chosen, displayed, and reviews educational materials sent with the works of art. Finally, a comparison of The Met’s activities with other museums situates its endeavors within the larger context of circulating exhibition programs during the twentieth century.