The Certification of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion for Contemporary Art Museums and Art Collections research project aims to create a comprehensive framework to assess and promote diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the selection of artists and artworks within contemporary art institutions. The project is organized around three key objectives:

  1. Definition of an Equal, Diverse, and Inclusive Contemporary Art Museum and Art Collection:
    The first objective centers on defining what it means to be an equal, diverse, and inclusive contemporary art museum and art collection. This includes establishing criteria and benchmarks to evaluate the representation of artists selected and collected. It also involves analyzing how museums and collections can authentically reflect a variety of artistic expressions, narratives, and cultural perspectives, ensuring equity and inclusivity in their acquisition, curation, and exhibition practices.                    Participate in the Collective Creation Document of  the Obejective 1                                                                                
  2. Developing Certification Analysis Procedures:
    The second goal is to design detailed evaluation methodologies to certify museums and art collections as meeting DEI standards in their selection processes. This includes collecting and analyzing data on the artists selected and shown in the institution space, the diversity of narratives conveyed by the artworks, and the mechanisms for selecting artists and artworks. The certification process will provide a standardized approach to assess how effectively institutions reflect diverse perspectives.                        
  3. Providing Recommendations for Sustainable DEI Practices:
    Lastly, the project seeks to propose actionable mechanisms, recommendations, and policies to help museums and art collections enhance their DEI efforts in the selection of artists and artworks. These strategies will address areas such as acquisition policies, curatorial practices, public programming, and community engagement, offering a roadmap for achieving sustainable and impactful change over the medium and long term.

By focusing on the diversity, equality, and inclusion of artists and artworks, this research aims to foster more representative and equitable cultural institutions that celebrate a wide range of voices and artistic expressions.

The ODBK Certification project is currently in the research phase. We make an OPEN CALL to all DEI Experts, Experienced Curators, art theoretical, academics, activist, artists, ..  to participate in this project, in one or more of the following points:

  1. Research and development of the metrics and procedures to evaluate  an art institution is equal, diverse, and inclusive
  2. Being part of the experts and consultants database of the consultancy, training, and evaluations, and teams will offered to the contemporary art museums and art collections
  3. Lecturer at the ODBK EMAMI Conference on one of the topics related to bring DEI, transparency, and democracy to the art world.

Why to participate in this important research?

  • You will support and contribute a fair and inclusive art landscape
  • Your name will be shown as a contributor in all places where the Certification Project is mentioned
  • You will receive the data and information of this research on first hand
  • You will receive a signed document as an expert in the EDI evaluation and analysis of art institutions
  • You will be part of the team of experts in the Certification. In case a museum is interested in going  through the Certification process in your country, you will be called to be part of the team and receive a fee for your services
  • In the case we gather funds for this research project your contribution will be remunerated
Contact us if you want to be part of the certification project
 

As part of this project, three subprojects have emerged to support it:

ODBK Certification Research Participants

Sharon Toval

Sharon is a French-Israeli researcher and independent curator of contemporary art based in Tel-Aviv. He holds a master degree in theory and policy of the arts from the prestigious Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem and a museology diploma from The Israel Museum of Art headed at the time by Chief Curator Yigal Zalmona. He hast curated many group and solo exhibitions in prominent galleries and museums in Israel and Europe. In addition to his independent activities, is the chief curator and art collection manager of the Isrotel hotel chain for which he purchase art collections, curate temporary exhibitions and manage several residency programs, AFAR (Art Forest Artists Residency) in northern Israel, MRAR (Mitzpe Ramon Artists Residency) and in Tel-Aviv, hosted at the new LAB experimental art space.

Kate Davey

Kate is a researcher, curator, and creative project and programme manager with expertise in equity, justice and inclusion in the UK cultural sector. She has worked for Clore Leadership, Outside In, the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, the British Art Network and the National Centre for Creative Health where her work has primarily focused on supporting and advocating for artists, audiences and professionals who are excluded from the art world. She is passionate about creating interventions that make underrepresented communities feel that cultural spaces are for them, inspiring them to take up positions where they can make change happen.
 
In 2025, Kate completed her PhD research, which explores the experience and reception of ‘outsider art’ within the UK cultural mainstream. Her hope is that the findings can inspire change in how we think about power, people and processes in relation to underrepresented people and art in the cultural sector. 

Mark Barrett

Markt is the Curator of the Woodbridge Tide Mill Museum – the only Tide Mill working and producing flour in the entire UK. He has 5 years of experience in the museum industry in the UK and alongside my usual job of being curator, and counts with a wealth of experience in Autism accessibility and inclusion work for the museum sector. He also worked with various partners including the National Trust, the University of Leicester, Cornwall Museums Partnership and National Gallery of Scotland.

Anna Galeeva

Accomplished art curator and project manager with over a decade of experience in the contemporary art industry. Based in Berlin, Germany, I work with PAS e.V., a non-profit organization focused on promoting cultural initiatives. My career spans curatorial work, managing art projects, and extensive participation in educational and interdisciplinary ventures.

David HInojosa

David is a multidiciplinary artists and activist. As a new media artist and founder of ODBK, is committed to building an art world that values equity, transparency, and inclusivity. ODBK challenges elitist structures, proposing fairer models like the Pure Taste Indicator and the Art Market Regulation Commission (AMARC) to empower diverse voices across the art market.

Rictus Franck Ngongang

I am a curator, cultural manager, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the arts. I am also advocating for the inclusion of migrants with lived experience, with extensive experience in festival management, transnational collaborations, and cultural policy, I am specialize in creating equitable platforms for underrepresented artists, particularly those from migrant, refugee, and Global South communities. My work focuses on ethical curatorial practices, decolonization in the arts, and fostering sustainable partnerships that bridge gaps between artists, institutions, and cultural networks.
 
Passionate about reshaping the contemporary art landscape, I am actively engaged in international cultural forums and policy discussions, advocating for greater accessibility, representation, and artistic empowerment.
 

Emanuel Zabala

Self-taught artist who grew up in South America. Paint to express my dreams, the collective unconscious, and the connection with my ancestors and the world from my perspective. Participated in collective exhibitions in virtual and physical galleries, as well as in flohmarkt in Berlin and other art markets where I have recently been selling my works. Believe in art as a way to change oneself and therefore society.