Contemporary Conversations: Facilitating Dialogue around Objects of Hate

• Event Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
• Time: 6:30 pm–8:00 pm (CDT)
• Location: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL

• Talk

Museums hold all types of material culture in their collections. Many of these objects are examples of historic or aesthetic significance. Some are common everyday objects like ceramic dining ware. Others may have been created for religious or social ceremonies. All reflect what mattered to creators and echoed their cultural values. This includes both objects we love (Spurlock’s Barong Ket is popular with school groups) and those that may make us uncomfortable (nude sculptures in Spurlock’s Gallery of Ancient Mediterranean Cultures elicit giggles and confusion from the same school groups). What about objects that make us angry? How do museums interpret objects of hate within their collections? Join this contemporary conversation with museum professionals as they discuss the challenges of displaying objects of hate and thoughtful ways to facilitate dialogue around their charged themes.

Panelists include Monica M. Scott, Manager of Community Engagement and Programs, Spurlock Museum; Dery Martinez Bonilla, Registrar, Spurlock Museum; Mark D. Hanson, Curator of Collections and Exhibits, Museum of the Grand Prairie; and William Best, Museum Manager, Champaign County History Museum

Contemporary Conversations instigate conversations around contemporary cultural issues, themes, and ideas. These are mostly moderated conversations with a panel of experts, practitioners, and enthusiasts.