MSPs hear how museums have begun to address Scotland’s legacy of empire and slavery
Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager Jason Rose reflects on the key themes explored at a recent Parliamentary Reception hosted by MGS, from embedding anti-oppression and decolonising education to the creation of a new repatriation working group.
At the start of this year, the Scottish Government accepted the recommendations of the Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums (ESSM) Steering Group. This group was set up to advise on how Scotland’s museums and galleries can better reflect the country’s role in empire, colonialism, and historic slavery.
To help give MSPs and researchers from across the political spectrum a better understanding of the journey that museums and galleries are on, earlier this week we hosted a reception in the garden lobby of the Scottish Parliament.
Over 100 people attended from across our sector, the equalities community and other stakeholders, with several MSPs joining us, including members of the parliament’s culture committee, and the tourism minister.
The event was kindly sponsored by Foysol Choudhury MSP, convener of the cross– party group on culture and communities, who welcomed everyone with a passionate statement:
“Museums have the power to challenge our perceptions, to encourage us to confront the uncomfortable truths of our past, and to inspire us to build a more just and inclusive future.”
He called on people to “challenge the status quo and build a Scotland where everyone, regardless of their race or background, can see themselves reflected in our shared history.”
Reaffirming the Scottish Government’s support, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said in a video message:
“Scotland’s museums and galleries should be safe spaces that represent all our communities and should reflect our nation’s past. It’s by collectively challenging privilege that we will enact change.”
He welcomed the creation of the new Repatriation and Restitution working group by MGS, which is led by Neil Curtis from the University of Aberdeen, and added:
“By working together, I believe we will make a fairer Scotland to better, improve, and enrich the lives of those who live, work, and visit here.”
MGS team member Sheila Asante then spoke about Delivering Change, the three-year programme she manages. It was developed in response to the ESSM recommendations. It’s a collective effort between MGS and museums, galleries, and local groups to build relationships with systemically excluded communities. Sheila explained that MGS is supporting 19 Museum Transformers, and 100 Museum Activists on their anti-oppression journeys.
Delivering Change is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, People’s Postcode Lottery, and the Scottish Government.
Finally, we heard from Professor Churnjeet Mahn, who sits on the ESSM steering group. Prof Mahn gave her own perspective, explaining that her parents were born as subjects of the British empire and migrated to Glasgow in the 1960s. Families such as hers are part of Scotland’s story, and that story involved wealth gained by the stripping of assets of overseas communities.
The ESSM steering group is working to deliver its first recommendation, that Scotland should create a dedicated space and new organisation to address our role in empire, colonialism, and historic slavery. Prof Mahn explained that we are all invested in what comes next, and expressed confidence that Scotland never shrinks from a challenge.
During the event, attendees were able to meet a variety of organisations to understand how museums are embedding anti-racism in their workplaces and public spaces.
MSPs spoke to a range of national and local organisations from across Scotland, including the Hunterian, the National Museum of Scotland, the University of Aberdeen, Perth Museum, the University of Edinburgh, Museums and Galleries Edinburgh, Paisley Museum, Cromarty Courthouse, Glasgow School of Art, the Watt Institution, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, and our own Delivering Change team.
A key point we got across with this event was that many museums are starting out on a journey – there’s still lots of work to do.
We know this subject is due to come up at a future meeting of the parliament’s culture committee, so this was a timely opportunity to keep politicians updated and engaged.
Scotland’s museums and galleries rank amongst the most visited attractions in the UK, so they are vital to our international cultural reputation. This also makes them key to combatting institutional racism and tackling inequalities. We look forward to continuing to advocate for the sector as we make progress on this important journey.
