Over the past year BSWN has undertaken a research project, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, focused on how concepts like decolonisation, diversity, and inclusion in relation to racial inclusion are understood and enacted within the heritage and cultural sector in the South West of England. We conducted frank and honest conversations with CEOs, Directors, and Cultural Heritage Managers from over 15 cultural heritage institutions as a way to start the conversation that will allow us and the region to begin to tackle these issues head on.
BSWN was delighted to host over 70 guests and speakers Thursday 6th February at 1pm at the M Shed. The aim of the event was to bring together the cultural heritage sector, academics, and community organisations, artist and actors in a conversation around what it means to do racial inclusion work within cultural heritage organisations and sites through a decolonial lens.
After a delicious lunch provided by Lisa’s Kitchen and musical performance by musician Amadou Diagne, the event was opened by the Chair Jendayi Serwah, who invited our Director Sado Jirde as well as Deputy Mayor Asher Craig to share why there is a need to recognise the history and heritage of BAME communities in the region, and to bring the Intangible heritage into museums and cultural spaces in a more dynamic, community-led way.
Dr Errol Francis, Artistic Director and CEO of Culture&, helped us really understand what it is that we mean by decolonisation and why it is important for institutions to participate in this process. He noted that “Museums should get beyond objects and become spaces for thinking and cultural exchange”.
The next guest speaker Dr Angelina Osbourne, Lecturer at the Kensington and Chelsea College London, further extended this thinking by adding that in order to decolonise the current narrative, it is imperative that we re-contextualise history. "Black historical consciousness involves recognising black people as complex multidimensional beings, and telling critical truth rather than sanitising history”. Furthermore, she highlighted the need to be realistic about the perspective and value of museums and institutions by saying that “Museum spaces are not neutral, universities are not neutral, institutions are not neutral. Black cultural institutions should be recognised as just as valuable as mainstream institutions”.
Our colleagues Jennifer Sharratt, Cultural Heritage Manager, and Matt Branch, Brown University, were excited to share with the audience the midpoint progress for our Intangible Cultural Heritage, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as some of the interim findings from our research into the barriers to inclusion and decolonisation within heritage institutions. One of the key findings that resonated with the audience highlighted that "44% of institutions identified attitudes and mindsets as the greatest barrier to inclusion and decolonisation" in their organisation”.
Following a quick break the event resumed with a panel discussion chaired by Rob Mitchell, Firstborn Studios, and the audience had a chance to hear from our guest speakers as well as Dr Shawn Sobers, Associate Professor of Lens Based Media at the University of the West of England, and Stacey Olika, Amaka Designs.
The panel discussion highlighted that:
There is a need to explore the difference between how urban and rural spaces incorporate Intangible Cultural heritage, and how we can tell stories through rural collections. One of the most notable examples of this approach was the work of artist Ingrid Pollard who explores how black people use the countryside
Education plays a key role in helping re-contextualise history from an early age. Students are not thought Black history in school and have to learn by themselves, or if they are lucky have access through innovative teachers who use diverse resources to tell the story. Black history should be incorporated into the curriculum, and also be contributed toward by contemporary Black British historians and academics.
The process of decolonisation cannot happen in without addressing Afrophobia and ingrained mindsets and attitudes, which was clearly reflected in BSWN’s interim research findings
When asked whether museums can really ever be decolonised, most of the panel did not feel optimistic about this prospect. However, they all agreed that there is absolutely space to rethink the relationship with objects. Could we have a new type of museum in the future? Could we have a non-object, multi-sensory interactions to connect to heritage? This will all be affected by advancement of technology and the means the museums have to tell the stories. In the meantime, the audience had a chance to hear several excellent examples from across the country (London and Birmingham for instance) where decolonisation process is already taking place, where permanent collections are being reviewed, multiple voices are being included and uncomfortable histories acknowledged.
BSWN looks forward to further engaging with museums and cultural institutions over the next 8 months, as well as supporting Black and Asian led heritage organisations in the region. If you are interested in finding out more about the project or get in touch with our team, please email heritage.manager@bswn.org.uk .