Research Associate of Community Engagement & Public Programming at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art, 2023-2024.
My role was intimately connected with the Department’s gallery renovation process (2022-2026), as I was hired to conduct research on how to make the new galleries more relevant and accessible to local communities, with particular emphasis on Middle Eastern diaspora communities in New York City who often feel alienated from their ancient heritage and from museum institutions like The Met more broadly. During my time as a Research Associate, I formulated multiple proposals to the Department regarding the future of their public programming, built relationships with various community partners in the city and abroad, interviewed 50+ relevant stakeholders and artists invested in heritage and engagement work, and drafted an “action plan” of realistic and reliable outreach opportunities for the gallery spaces. My proposals helped secure 1 million USD in funding from the Carnegie Foundation for the Department to execute its public programming and engagement plans.