Art and Inclusion
Visitation (FY26)
The High increased its Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) participation from 15% in 2015 to 55% in 2026, a 267% increase. In fact, during the past nine years, we have averaged 52% in BIPOC visitation. We have made a conscious effort to ensure that our audience reflects the makeup of Atlanta by intentionally presenting diverse exhibitions, increasing community access, establishing unique partnerships, and developing accessible programming.
* Significantly reduced attendance during the pandemic negated our ability to collect a statistically relevant sample. Hence, we consider FY21 unreportable.
High Museum of Art (FY26)
High Museum of Art
9-Year Average
2017–2026
Metro Atlanta Area
Education Level (FY26)
National Arts Audiences Data
| High Museum FY26 |
Atlanta, Georgia U.S. Census Bureau |
|
| White | 45% | 37.6% |
| Black/African American | 25% | 51.8% |
| Latine and Hispanic | 8% | 4.3% |
| Asian or Pacific Islander | 9% | 4.2% |
| Native American or Alaska Native | 1% | 0.2% |
| Multiple Races | 7% | 2.4% |
| Other | 5% | — |
Age of High Museum Visitors (FY26)
Household Income of High Museum Visitors (FY26)
A Quick Note on Visitation
This demographic data is collected
in two ways: 1) our visitors self-identify
via touch polls located
throughout the museum and 2) via
mobile phone data aggregated
via on-site visitation. This data
excludes the nearly 25,000 schoolchildren
who visit the museum on
an annual basis.
Artworks on View (FY26)
This represents accessioned works only and includes works in special exhibitions and permanent collection gallery rotations. African works attributed to a group or culture are counted as one unique artist per object. All works by unidentified artists are counted as male. These numbers represent artworks on view, not accessioned artists. Some artists had multiple works on view.
American Art
By Gender
By Race
African Art
By Gender
By Race
Decorative Art
By Gender
By Race
Photography
By Gender
By Race
Folk and Self-Taught Art
By Gender
By Race
Modern and Contemporary Art
By Gender
By Race
European Art
By Gender
By Race
Acquisitions
The following historical data shows acquisitions from two perspectives: total number of works purchased and total cost of works purchased. To gain a comprehensive overview of this data, it is important to toggle between both charts. For example, between FY17 and FY19, artists of color represented on average 32% of the funds annually expended to purchase new works. However, during that same time period, those same acquisitions represented on average 52% of the total number of works acquired each year.
Acquisitions by Number
Acquisitions by Dollar Amount
A Quick Note on Acquisitions
In FY21, pandemic-related financial uncertainty caused us to impose a moratorium on acquisitions. Consequently, we consider FY21 unreportable.
Exhibitions
From FY12 through FY15, 32% of exhibitions featured women artists, artists of color, and LGBTQIA+ artists. Since FY16, we redoubled our efforts, increasing our presentation of exhibitions featuring women artists, artists of color, and LGBTQIA+ artists to an annual average of 67%.
Exhibitions Featuring Woman-Identifying or Female Artists, Artists of Color, and LGBTQ+ Artists
Driskell Prize
The David C. Driskell Prize is the first national prize to recognize significant contributions to the field of African American art and art history by Black artists and scholars. Since its inception in 2005, the event has raised $6.5 million and supported the purchase of 54 works by African American artists.
Quick Note: The Driskell Dinner was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funds Raised
Talent Pipeline
AUC Art Collective
Through a partnership with the Atlanta University Center for Art History and Curatorial Studies Collective, this coeducational program is jointly taught by staff at the High and Spelman College. It is designed for rising junior and senior high school students interested in attending HBCUs and focuses on art history and art museums. During the four-week program, students learn about the work involved in museum and art history professions; complete projects and participate in workshops; engage in discussions at Spelman College, the Atlanta University Center, and the High Museum of Art; and make site visits to other locations in Atlanta and around the region.
Staff
A Quick Note on Staff
As of FY26, the museum employed
approximately 151 staff. The data
provided excludes approximately
45 security and janitorial staff,
which are provided by independent
third-party vendors.
On a consistent basis, the High intentionally reappraises and addresses the notion of a livable wage for its employees. All museum employees now make either a minimum of $15/hour as nonexempt staff or $45,000/year as exempt staff.
Percentage of White Employees at the High Museum
Teen Leadership Council
The Teen Leadership Council, formerly known as the Teen Team, is a diverse group of junior and senior high school students who work at the museum as paid employees to gain knowledge and experience in various disciplines of the museum. The program is nationally regarded as a competitive program for teens who may be interested in the arts. Each year, at least two Teen Leadership Council seniors are offered Posse Scholarships, which cover full tuition and board to some of the nation's top universities.
- White
- Black/African American
- Latine and Hispanic
- Multiple
- Middle Eastern
- Asian
2026–2027
2025–2026
2024–2025
2023–2024
2022–2023
2021–2022
2019–2020
2018–2019
2017–2018
Board of Directors
While progress has been made in diversifying board representation by age and gender, further diversification by ethnicity is a strategic priority and area for improvement.