It is an Honor to Work to Protect Culture – Join Us in Making Our Museums Sustainable

November 10, 2025

Detroit Councilmember Scott Benson received the Advocate Award from the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in recognition of his leadership efforts to establish sustainable funding for the institution. The award acknowledges his strategic work in advancing legislation that would create a millage to financially support both The Wright Museum and the Detroit Historical Museum, neither of which currently receives millage funding.

Who is affected

Councilmember Scott Benson (award recipient)
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
The Detroit Historical Museum
Detroit residents and visitors
Museum trustees and staff
Mayor Mike Duggan
Voters in Detroit and surrounding communities

What action is being taken

Councilmember Benson is working with a team to get the millage bill signed and placed on a future ballot for voter approval.

Why it matters

The Wright Museum and Detroit Historical Museum are vital cultural institutions that preserve and promote African American history and Detroit's broader history, but they lack the stable millage funding that supports other regional institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Zoo. Without secure funding, these museums struggle financially despite their essential role in educating the community, preserving authentic historical narratives, and serving as foundational pillars for the city's identity and future development.

What's next

The millage legislation needs to be signed and then placed on a future ballot for voters to approve the maximum 0.2 mills over 10 years to support historical museums in Detroit and other communities.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle