HISTORY AND CULTURE MUSEUM / SCHOOL FOR ACTIVISTS

The American LGBTQ+ Museum

Currently, there are more than 11 million Americans that identify as LGBTQ+, and the community is growing more rapidly than ever before as younger generations are more likely to identify with traditional, emergent, and adjacent identities. LGBTQ+ people have a long and storied history in New York City and beyond, long predating the Stonewall riots. Yet because of shame, stigma, and prejudice, the unique contributions of LGBTQ+ history has been ignored or erased. To date-despite progress on a range of LGBTQ+ issues-there is no major LGBTQ+ cultural destination in the United States.

AK Cultural Planning was selected to lead an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive Institutional Planning services for the future American LGBTQ+ Museum. We collaborated with partner firms to oversee the execution of two national surveys, interviews with though leaders, and extensive stakeholder engagement across all five NYC boroughs. We analyzed the market and identified target audiences; developed the Museum's mission, values, programming framework, and identified preliminary attendance and operating budget ranges. Additionally, we directed the creation of the institution’s Design Principles, and assessments of real estate sites, space needs, and estimated capital/construction costs.

The concept and strategy for the Museum is based on rigorous research and engagement of over 3,200 LGBTQ+ community members. Research confirmed significant demand and urgency to:

• Expand understanding of LGBTQ+ history and culture, especially among young LGBTQ+ people;

• Preserve LGBTQ+ artifacts and stories that are at risk of being lost;

• Train the next generation of activists; and

• Support existing archives and libraries to ensure LGBTQ+ history is told by LGBTQ+ institutions

Collaborators included consultants Susan Stryker, PhD, Joel Sanders Architect, Community Marketing & Insights, Landair, Brilliant Idea Studio, and Stuart Lynn Company.

Based on our concept, the Board of Trustees and staff launched partner-driven public programming and raised the funds to construct the museum’s first home at the New York Historical Society. AKCP also developed a new 3-year strategic plan in close collaboration with staff and Board leadership, adopted launched in 2024. 

We continue to support ongoing institutional implementation, including:

• Planning and launching advisory groups 

• Managing ongoing research, collection development, and special projects 

• Advancing a one-of-a-kind impact-based Visitor Experience