National Museum Statements in Response to BLM
I have compiled the statements posted by national museums in London on Twitter in response to recent Black Lives Matter protests. Some are hollow, some seem meaningful, some had not yet responded at the time of writing.*
While I have concentrated on national museums, private museums and galleries are not exempt from examining how their organisations may perpetuate racism and exclude certain groups. Likewise, other museums in cities and towns also have a crucial role to play in their communities. Nevertheless, as the capital of England and a major international tourism centre, museums in London are in a particular position of influence. As organisations who care for many historic buildings and sites across the UK, I have also included the statements of the National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Royal Palaces.
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| The British Museum |
British Museum
5/6/20
'The British Museum stands in solidarity with the Black community throughout the world. Black Lives Matter.
We stand with everyone who is denied equal rights and protection from violence in the fullest sense of these terms. These are challenges that we as a society must address, injustices that must be overcome.
We will move forward together as we listen, learn, and act.' - Director Hartwig Fischer
Former Trustee Bonnie Greer’s new blog post reflects on recent events, exploring the ideas of trauma, reclamation and how we can use the past to build our future.
The full statement by Director Hartwig Fischer: https://blog.britishmuseum.org/a-message-from-director-hartwig-fischer/
Bonnie Greer's post, mentioned above is also here: https://blog.britishmuseum.org/bonnie-greer-what-we-have-saved-from-the-fire/
Horniman Museum
1/6/20
Black Lives Matter.
We condemn racism in all its forms, which continues to be played out daily in the U, the USA and around the world.
As an organisation, we recognise our colonial and racist past, and our mission is now to help shape a positive future for the world we all share.
This has never been more vital than it is now.
https://twitter.com/HornimanMuseum/status/1267503135431561219
They are also in the midst of a research project to support people from the African and Caribbean diaspora in the UK to research and tell the stories of objects in their collection: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/project/community-action-research-african-and-caribbean-collections/
Imperial War Museums
* Imperial War Museums (which includes IWM London, IWM North, IWM Duxford, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast) issued a statement after this post was initially sent out. I have included it below:
10/2/20
Making a statement about Black Lives Matter is no substitute for making actionable change.
Racism isn't just about hate. It spans unconscious bias, access, inclusion, ignorance, apathy and dialogue. These are all things we can help tackle through how we tell stories at IWM.
We know there's a lot more we can do, and a long way for us to go.
Here are some of the things we will do:
- We will listen - to our peers, our staff, our visitors and the wider public.
- We will have difficult conversations - including about our own history.
-We will embrace topics perceived as 'controversial; which reveal or highlight issues that are uncomfortable or contested, nationally and internationally.
- We will explicitly collect around excluded and underrepresented stories.
- We will diversify our collections.
- We will increase the number of staff appointments from minority groups.
- We will create an open and supportive environment for our staff to challenge and interrogate us.
- We will tell more stories to represent marginalised narratives and experiences.
- We will continue to implement access and inclusion training for all of our staff, at all levels.
- We will continue to give a voice to an internal network of staff in place to be 'critical friends' to the museum on all issues of access and inclusion.
All of these actions are measurable. We will report back on our progress to our Trustees who hold IWM to account on behalf of the public.
We will keep listening.
Museum of the Home (Geffrye Museum)
2/6/20
https://twitter.com/MuseumoftheHome/status/1267768968179331072
National Gallery
5/6/20
We at the National Gallery stand in solidarity with those who reject racism, inequality and violence.
We acknowledge that our collection has a particular, historically-rooted character and that we need to tell a broader story.
Given our location in London and our role as a global institution, we must take this moment to listen, pose important questions and reflect on how our museum can play a role in making our society more just, tolerant and inclusive.
National Portrait Gallery
2/6/20
We are a Gallery about people and for people. In solidarity with the black community across the world, we recognise that we have a responsibility to face the need for change and to speak out against all forms of racism and discrimination
Following the tragic death of George Floyd and the events of recent days. The National Portrait Gallery exists to tell the story of the people who have made and are making British history and culture.
We are aware that many works in our historic Collection represent white privilege and that we have our own challenges to face to ensure that we better represent the history and experiences of all the people of the UK.
We are working hard to change this and are committed to finding new ways to tell the stories of all those who are under-represented. Our thoughts are with George Floyd’s family and all those who continue to suffer from racism and violence across the world.
National Army Museum
No statement at the time of writing
1/6/20
Many museum collections, including our own, are rooted in colonialism and racism. Today, we need to be accessible to all, as the hallmarks of this legacy linger on. It is essential we engage with these issues in order to move forward.
How collections such as ours are connected to slavery and how this history can be dealt with are explored in a paper published in the @Nat_SCA Journal of Natural Science Collections: https://natsca.org/article/2509
The Museum was founded within the context of empire, colonisation and exploration. Natural history publications, journals and diaries, held in @NHM_Library, reveal how its history and collections are connected to the transatlantic slave trade.
They added to the 1st tweet:
Our vision is of a future where both people and planet thrive. We cannot reach that future without being actively anti-racist. We have a lot of work to do, but part of that is using our voice and our platform to speak up in solidarity.
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| The National History Museum |
Science Museum
* The Science Museum issued a statement after this post was initially sent out. I have included it below:
We stand against racism and, in response to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, we are determined to focus on meaningful and ongoing change to our organisation.
We want to chart an inclusive way forward rooted in our values, which will be captured in a blog series launching today. We could and should have done more in the past and acknowledge that these immediate actions are just the first steps in a long journey.
We took some time for reflection before posting because we believed it was important to accompany any public statement with immediate action.
https://twitter.com/sciencemuseum/status/1271385967526641666
The blog mentioned above is here:
https://www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/blog/if-not-now-when/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=L%20AP:%20Open%20for%20All%2012.06.20&utm_content=thread
Sir John Soane's Museum
No statement at the time of writing.
Tate
1/6/20
We have a platform, a voice, and a duty to our Black members, employees, artists, visitors and followers to speak up and stand for human rights and anti-racism. Nobody should have to live in fear because of the colour of their skin.
This artwork by Chris Ofili is a tribute to teenager Stephen Lawrence who was murdered in a racially motivated attack in London in 1993. Ofili intended this painting to be read as a universal portrayal of melancholy and grief.
We are grieving with you — for Stephen, for George Floyd, and all the people who suffer at the hands of prejudice and violence.
Tate have also collated the following resources: https://www.tate.org.uk/art
V&A
4/6/20
We stand in solidarity with all those rejecting racism, social injustice and violence. The V&A exists to champion stories of creativity across cultures, communities and histories.
Reflecting on our position as a global institution, we must take this moment to ask the important questions about how we can change.
We have a responsibility to our black and minority employees, members, visitors, followers & artistic community to better amplify and showcase their perspectives and are committed to doing so.
Tristram Hunt's (Director) full statement: https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/news/black-lives-matter-race-and-equality-at-the-va
A statement by the Curator of African and African Diasporic Fashion, Gus Casely-Hayford, was later released: https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/news/there-is-a-moment
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| The V&A |
Wallace Collection
2/6/20
We build our lives through the love we have for each other, the experiences that shape us, and the actions that define us. We at the Wallace Collection stand in solidarity with our black colleagues, friends, loved-ones and visitors, because Black Lives Matter.
Other cultural organisations' statements:
3/6/20
As MA members we welcome this. We have a long way to go but we’re working to share the painful histories attached to some of our places & collections; we’re committed to creating diverse, inclusive & welcoming environments for everyone. We do not tolerate racism.
https://twitter.com/nationaltrust/status/1268108665904603137
English Heritage
4/6/20
We’ve been following the events of last week and reflecting on the connections between the past and present, and the importance of history to our understanding of what’s happening today. (1/2)
We’re committed to telling the story of England in full. We know we have much more to do. Black history is part of English history. We never forget this as we explore our rich, complex and sometimes difficult past.
https://twitter.com/EnglishHeritage/status/1268535485162536965
Historic Royal Palaces
2/6/20
We’re listening. Black Lives Matter.
We are the custodians of 6 royal sites, each with challenging and contested histories. We know that we must do more to research and share diverse perspectives on the experiences they represent, in all areas of our work. We have begun to do this – but we have a long way to go.
* This post was edited 1 week after the initial post (7th June), to update the museums that subsequently issued statements.