The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston will invest $500,000 in a fund for diversity and inclusion after an investigation by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey into an alleged racist incident last year, her office announced Tuesday.
The Healey's office has been investigating reports that minority middle school students were subjected to racism by staff and patrons during a field trip to the museum on May 16, 2019.
During a visit to the museum, the principal of the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy in Dorchester said museum security followed his students while leaving white students alone.
Two patrons were also banned by the museum for alleged disparaging remarks during the visit.
Healey announced that her office and the museum have reached an agreement on the fund and new policies, including biannual reports on diversity efforts, retaining an external consultant and collaborating with field trip participants on an action plan to be more welcoming to everyone in the community.
"Our cultural institutions play an important role in fostering and providing an inclusive environment for communities and people of all backgrounds," Healey said in a statement. "Today's agreement affirms the experiences of students and teachers from the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy and lifts up their voices and the voices of local communities of color to help shape change and greater understanding."
