In the heart of downtown Seattle, beside the iconic Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) stands as a major institution dedicated to honoring global movements, cultural artifacts and revolutionary artists. While the venue originally opened in 2000 as the Experience Music Project, its evolution led to a broader rebrand in 2016, and the institution now encompasses fashion, film, gaming= and music across an archive of 85,000 items. At the core of MOPOP's yearly mission sits the Icons Gala—the organization's flagship fundraising initiative celebrating trailblazers whose creative work shattered barriers and reshaped societal narratives.
When CEO Michele Smith arrived at MOPOP in 2023, she sought to clarify the institution's strategic role within an increasingly polarized landscape. "In 2023, when I got here, one of the things that the funders were asking was: 'Who is MOPOP? What is the power of pop culture?'" Smith told Newsweek.
To answer these questions, Smith established a comprehensive three-year installation workflow, anchoring all initiatives in four primary pillars while centering marginalized communities. Community engagement guided this programmatic shift after surveys revealed local populations demanded authentic representation. "If we don't see ourselves within the museum, why would we come?" community members noted, prompting MOPOP to amplify stories from BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and Asian American creators throughout its exhibits.
Furthermore, Smith incorporated a layer of social activism into the strategic framework, asserting public figures frequently leverage their platforms to drive meaningful societal change. Because political discourse dominated national conversation, MOPOP launched its long-term exhibit, Massive: The Power of Pop Culture, which examines celebrity activism through historical artifacts like a Black Lives Matter mural and a protest sign carried by Billie Eilish. Smith reaffirmed the museum's stance on equity and inclusion.
"We are living in a city that is focused on DEAI; we are not moving away from it," Smith said. The CEO also emphasized the scholarly validity of pop culture, demonstrating how contemporary media serve as accessible educational instruments. "Pop culture is scholarly, and by applying a different lens, our museum works to combat those biases," Smith said, pointing out how the elements of DJing can effectively bridge youth engagement with STEM education.
The museum's largest annual fundraiser, the Icons Gala, serves as the primary engine funding educational programs, youth advisory initiatives and community outreach. As the gala entered its third decade, leadership renamed the event from the Founders Gala to align directly with its core foundational disciplines: fashion, film, gaming and music. "It's a chance to celebrate the people who have left a permanent mark on pop culture," Smith observed.
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