The UnMuseum Cultural & Heritage Programme
Over the past few years, we have engaged in a number of community-based research projects, the latest being an examination of the situation of decolonisation within the cultural heritage sector in the South West.
The overarching strategic aim of our UnMuseum Cultural Heritage Programme is to impact upon a range of racial justice measures through culture and heritage work. In this programme, we have begun to develop a series of community archiving workshops, create content, and develop the digital UnMuseum prototype - an online space to which community-based archivists and cultural producers can ‘upload’ content and curate ‘collections’ through Black and Minoritised lenses.
It is known that participation in culture and heritage provides positive impacts on people’s well-being and sense of belonging. From a racial justice perspective, the participation in Black and Minoritised culture and heritage articulated through Black and Minoritised lenses amplifies this impact on health for Black and Minoritised people by providing spaces for healing from generational trauma and by removing the additional trauma caused by the mis-telling’s traditionally articulated through mainstream institutions. Further, the intertwining of cultural enterprise development throughout the programme impacts upon economic racial justice.
On the 22nd of March 2024, we hosted the UnMuseum Project's Consultants for an Away Day in our Incubator. Expertly facilitated by Stuart Taylor, Decolonial Scholar and Activist, the Away Day provided a space for the UnMuseum Team to reflect on their progress, evaluate their approaches towards the Development Phase of the UnMuseum, and celebrate the successes achieved by the whole team. We also hosted Jenny Williams (Take The Space), who contributed to the discussion, resulting in productive learnings from a whole-team dialogue. The Away Day concluded with tasty food from Jikoni East Africa!
Our Videos
Our UnMuseum launch event was a landmark celebration, bringing together diverse voices, artists, scholars, and cultural enthusiasts to mark the beginning of a transformative journey. Watch the highlights in the video above!
Filmed and edited by Cameron Medford-Hawkins
Discover Zoma Museum, an eco-conscious art institution in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, co-founded by artist Elias Sime and anthropologist Meskerem Assegued. Embracing transformation and collaboration in art, architecture, education, and sustainability while preserving heritage. Produced by Mian Ng for UWE Bristol, filmed and directed by Andy Francis.
In 2023, the BSWN team, along with colleagues from Arnolfini and UWE, journeyed to Museum Zoma in Addis Ababa. Graciously invited by the museum, we reflect on our visit, learning valuable lessons in art, architecture, education, sustainability, leadership, and heritage preservation. Enjoy this photo essay capturing our insights
Our UnMuseum Blogs
On Wednesday 7th December, we held the fourth and final event in our UnMuseum Culture & Heritage Programme autumn events. I Am Witness: The Role of Testimony in the Reparatory Justice Process. A highly reflexive, conscious dialogue between panellists and the audience, the role of testimony and truth in cultural reparations was elucidated.