Miami Courant

HistoryMiami Museum has announced that its CEO, Natalia Crujeiras, has been selected as an Emerson Collective Fellow. This fellowship will support her research on the role of cultural institutions in shaping civic identity.

Crujeiras is the first female and Latina CEO in the museum's 85-year history. She aims to transform HistoryMiami into a dynamic institution that connects Miami's diverse communities. The museum under her leadership focuses on celebrating Miami's cultural heritage and fostering inclusion.

The fellowship will allow Crujeiras to lead research on how museum exhibitions and programs impact civic identity. This work will contribute to the planning of HistoryMiami’s exhibition "Becoming Miamian," scheduled for July 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibition will highlight Miami’s vibrant communities and their evolving identities.

Through this fellowship, Crujeiras plans to conduct surveys, interviews, and fieldwork to develop a methodology for measuring how cultural institutions strengthen community bonds. Her findings aim to inform not only the "Becoming Miamian" exhibit but also create a toolkit for other cultural institutions nationwide.

"I am deeply honored to be selected as an Emerson Collective Fellow," said Crujeiras. "This fellowship will amplify the work we are doing at HistoryMiami, bringing our mission to a national stage."

Emerson Collective supports individuals whose work addresses pressing issues with potential societal impact. Fellows are chosen based on excellence and originality, receiving resources to pursue transformative projects.

Founded in 1940, HistoryMiami Museum is one of Miami's oldest cultural institutions and a Smithsonian Affiliate. It is dedicated to preserving the city's history through exhibitions and educational programs engaging visitors in Miami’s past, present, and future.