Building Community through Museums

2023-24 Phillips Collection Fellow Arianna Adade recently completed her fellowship with the Marketing and Communications and Community Engagement Departments and reflects on her work over the past year. Thank you for your hard work, Arianna!

What projects did you work on during your fellowship? 

I worked on quite a few projects during my fellowship, many of which involved writing (which I love)! I worked on numerous blog posts, from artist interviews to exhibition articles. I got a chance to not only write about local artists and exhibitions at THEARC but also explore topics that I was interested in. My favorite articles range from Black queer artists to Afrofuturism. I also assisted in community events with various groups, ranging from families and teens to caretakers, many of which took place at THEARC. I also did a lot of research and a report on teen programming that could be brought to the Phillips. 

What was your favorite experience at The Phillips Collection? 

I have a lot of favorite experiences at the Phillips! I loved the opportunity to visit artists’ studios to interview them and look closely at their works and materials. I could really see their personality through the spaces they occupy to create. As a college student, it can be easy to stay in the campus bubble; having the chance to explore artists’ studios all over DC led me to new places I have never seen. One of my favorite studio visits was with [mural artist] Rik Freeman. I met him in his neighborhood, Deanwood, explored the area, and visited his beautiful home. Freeman has such a gorgeous backyard space that holds a garden and his own home studio space! I got to see the artworks he completed over several decades, talk to his wife, and meet his two adorable dogs. 

I also really enjoyed the field trips with the other fellows and interns. The fellows and fall interns started at the museum at the same time and we became close and formed a community very quickly. Having the chance to explore other museums and restaurants with them was always so heartwarming. 

What was your favorite exhibition during your fellowship? 

My favorite exhibition is definitely Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage. Being able to explore the multiple floors and spaces filled with Black art is truly special. When I first viewed the exhibition, I had such a special moment speaking with an older woman visiting the museum from Korea. When she found out I was a fellow, we talked about the artwork in Multiplicity and spent at least half an hour together getting to know one another—I love how art brings us closer to the community. Even though each piece in the exhibition is amazing, Wangechi Mutu’s A’gave You was particularly special to me! Mutu is one of my favorite artists and has done so much for contemporary African art and Afro-surrealism. I first fell in love with her work after seeing her solo exhibition at the New Museum in New York and was so happy to see her here at the Phillips; it just goes to show how the museum is constantly pushing the boundaries of art appreciation in the museum world. 

What is the most interesting thing you learned during your time at The Phillips Collection? 

Community is such an important part of museums. Not just the community with coworkers, but also individuals outside of the art world as well. I truly believe that without forming genuine bonds with those around us, museums would cease to exist—the love of art comes from the people. I think it is so important for those in the art world to listen to the outside and serve as an inclusive space for all people and ideas, and become a more common “third space” that can further push the purpose of these institutions as well as help in community growth. 

What advice would you give to future fellows? 

Work outside of what you believe they want to do. If you’re interested in curatorial work, help out with the archives. If you are interested in HR, work with public programs. This not only grows your skillset, but shows just how much more museums truly have to offer. You never know what new passion you may find.