Strategic Plan and DEAI Goals
In November 2015, the Walters Board of Trustees approved a Strategic Plan for the museum, which set out a 10-year roadmap for the institution. It outlines a shared vision of the Walters as a transformative force in the Baltimore region.
In December 2020, the museum also finalized a set of institutional DEAI goals that will advance the museum’s commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in our organization, our communities, and the museum field. This commitment is foundational to the Walters’ vision to be a force for transformation—to being an anti-racist institution and a 21st-century museum, an evolving civic organization that creates space for dialogue, reflection, and artistic creation.
The DEAI Goals–originally released publicly in March 2021, followed by a mid-way progress report in October 2022–were developed by a Joint Staff & Board DEAI Working Group in alignment with the museum’s Strategic Plan. These DEAI Goals outlined initiatives and actions for 2021-2024. The DEAI: Report on Progress shows the results of three years of work to launch or strengthen a range of DEAI initiatives across the museum, highlighting both progress made during this period and ongoing efforts. Moving forward, DEAI work will be integrated into the Walters’ processes and multi-year institutional goals, demonstrating significant structural change. Progress will be tracked annually using metrics established by the institution and informed by a cross-divisional Metrics Team.
Strategic Partners
The Walters’ strategic plan envisions the museum as a transformative force in the region and a cornerstone in the community by engaging in collaborative leadership and by creating and sustaining innovative partnerships. To achieve those goals, the Walters partners with organizations across Baltimore and Maryland, and has formed strategic partnerships with four anchor institutions in Baltimore—Morgan State University, UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Kennedy Krieger Institute: The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, and MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art).