---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It shouldn't be that people think the…"
description: "\"It shouldn't be that people think the National Gallery is just for middle-class white people.\" — Munira Mirza"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/munira-mirza-6468_just_it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-na_2079124.jpg"
---

#  It shouldn't be that people think the National Gallery is…

![“It shouldn't be that people think the National Gallery is just for middle-class white people.” quote by Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/munira-mirza-6468_just_it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-na_2079124.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/munira-mirza-6468_just_it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-na_2079124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/munira-mirza-6468_just_it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-na_2079124.jpg)

> “It shouldn't be that people think the National Gallery is just for middle-class white people.”

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The National Gallery should be inclusive, not perceived as exclusive to a specific demographic.

**In simple terms:** Art museums must welcome all people.

Key Takeaway

Promote inclusive cultural spaces.

Themes

inclusion culture access diversity

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

advocacy social commentary

When to use this quote

- museum visits
- school field trips
- community events
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

social equity public art community engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- How can institutions actively broaden their audience?
- What barriers prevent diverse groups from visiting?

A Different Perspective

Changing perceptions requires systemic outreach, not just statements.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/)

## Related quotes

> [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [It was my father's hope, and it is ours, that the National Gallery would become not a static but a living institution, growing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mellon/it-was-my-father-s-hope-and-it-is-ours-that-the-national-gallery/)

[Paul Mellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mellon/)

> [If you think about the way we experience art, the paradigm is still Western European. If I go to the National Gallery, what am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/if-you-think-about-the-way-we-experience-art-the-paradigm-is-still/)

[Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/)

> [I don't think there is a national pasttime. Watching TV is a national pasttime. Really. If there is a national pasttime, it is watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-national-pasttime-watching-tv-is-a-national/)

[Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/)

> [I do not think about the national team too much because footballistically it is not of too much interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/i-do-not-think-about-the-national-team-too-much-because/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [They're still a subject beholden to special interests, but at least they have a national constituency. At least they have to think about national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/they-re-still-a-subject-beholden-to-special-interests-but-at-least/)

[Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/)

> [Do I think I'm a national treasure? I don't see why not? I don't see why I shouldn't be. I'm a good lad, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-williams/do-i-think-i-m-a-national-treasure-i-don-t-see-why-not-i-don-t-see/)

[Robbie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-williams/)

> [I personally think our national anthem is not patriotic enough. There is another poem by Dwijendralal Ray called 'Dhono Dhanne Pushpe Bhora,' which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/i-personally-think-our-national-anthem-is-not-patriotic-enough-there/)

[Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/)

> [Very obviously, the electorate as a mass has not imbibed the philosophy of 'think national, act local' or even 'think big and beyond' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-bhaskara-rao/very-obviously-the-electorate-as-a-mass-has-not-imbibed-the/)

[N. Bhaskara Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-bhaskara-rao/)

> [I think there should be national standards on the use of legal force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-there-should-be-national-standards-on-the-use-of-legal-force/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I think on a national level your Department of Law there in the White House would look at some of the things that we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-think-on-a-national-level-your-department-of-law-there-in-the-white/)

[Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/)

> [When I was 13 years old, I went to visit my aunt and uncle in Washington, D.C., and they just deposited me at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/when-i-was-13-years-old-i-went-to-visit-my-aunt-and-uncle-in/)

[John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/)

> [I like all sorts of art, that's why I love wandering around The National Gallery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-like-all-sorts-of-art-that-s-why-i-love-wandering-around-the/)

[Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/)

> [How often my soul visits the National Gallery, and how seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/how-often-my-soul-visits-the-national-gallery-and-how-seldom/)

[Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/)

> [I foresee the time when the painter will paint that scene, no longer going to Rome for a subject; the poet will sing it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-foresee-the-time-when-the-painter-will-paint-that-scene-no-longer/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

## More by Munira Mirza

> [The growth of race relations management, diversity training and 'promoting good relations' has come at a cost. We are more sensitized to racism, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/the-growth-of-race-relations-management-diversity-training-and/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [Studying art history is actually one of the few ways of getting a good job in the arts sector. It's hard to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/studying-art-history-is-actually-one-of-the-few-ways-of-getting-a/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [By appeasing the anti-racism lobby and affirming its culture of grievance, public institutions and business leaders are not making Britain a fairer place. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/by-appeasing-the-anti-racism-lobby-and-affirming-its-culture-of/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [It's important that we challenge the culture of low expectations. You need to believe every child can do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/it-s-important-that-we-challenge-the-culture-of-low-expectations-you/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [If white people are constantly told how culturally different their Asian neighbors are, and if Asians are told to be vigilant against white racism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/if-white-people-are-constantly-told-how-culturally-different-their/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [But I do love working for Boris because he never stops. He's always fizzing with good ideas, and when you are looking after culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/but-i-do-love-working-for-boris-because-he-never-stops-he-s-always/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [Islamist groups have gained influence at local and national level by playing the politics of identity and demanding for Muslims the 'right to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/islamist-groups-have-gained-influence-at-local-and-national-level-by/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [At the same time women are putting on the headscarf, they are also going to work, to education, increasingly vocal in the media -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/at-the-same-time-women-are-putting-on-the-headscarf-they-are-also/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [The idea that Veronica Wadley has no artistic credibility is just crazy. She has a strong reputation and when she was editor of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/the-idea-that-veronica-wadley-has-no-artistic-credibility-is-just/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [I've argued for a much less instrumentalist politicized approach, freeing up the arts and enabling them to deliver high-quality projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/i-ve-argued-for-a-much-less-instrumentalist-politicized-approach/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [Often, when art from the canon is brought in to fine art classes, it is used as a prop to inspire art-making projects but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/often-when-art-from-the-canon-is-brought-in-to-fine-art-classes-it-is/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [For many there is a degree of constancy in our culture; London won't let you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/for-many-there-is-a-degree-of-constancy-in-our-culture-london-won-t/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [London's top colleges attract the best young talent from around the world; they're truly a national asset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/london-s-top-colleges-attract-the-best-young-talent-from-around-the/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [There's been a kind of inverse snobbery about culture. I get the feeling some people would look at Shakespeare and say, that's a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/there-s-been-a-kind-of-inverse-snobbery-about-culture-i-get-the/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [Some Muslim lobby groups have argued that Christian groups already have public funding for their schools and services so they should too. In response,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/some-muslim-lobby-groups-have-argued-that-christian-groups-already/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

[Explore all 99 Munira Mirza quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

## More Artist quotes

> [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/)

[Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/)

> [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/)

[Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/)

> [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/)

Taf Teh

> [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/)

[St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/)

[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/)

[Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/)

[Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/)

> [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/)

[Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/)

[Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It shouldn't be that people think the National Gallery is just for middle-class white people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Munira Mirza"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-national-gallery-is-just-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Artist"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-national-gallery-is-just-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/munira-mirza-6468_just_it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-na_2079124.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/munira-mirza-6468_just_it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-na_2079124.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/munira-mirza-6468_just_it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-na_2079124.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It shouldn't be that people think the National Gallery is just for middle-class white people.” — Munira Mirza",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Munira Mirza",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It shouldn't be that people think...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-national-gallery-is-just-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/it-shouldn-t-be-that-people-think-the-national-gallery-is-just-for/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```