Our statement on recent far-right violence

13 August 2024

Museums and museum workers throughout the UK will be taking stock and thinking about what to do next in light of the violence, riots, racism and anti-Muslim bigotry that we have seen on our streets over the past couple of weeks.

The Museums Association’s core values are centred on championing equity and diversity and campaigning for social justice. We recognise that the hate and discrimination that we have seen has been directed at people from global majority communities, refugees, migrants and those seeking asylum. We reject this violence and racism and stand with those impacted.

Museums have a key role to play in supporting communities, fostering understanding and bringing people together to create a sense of shared history – which is needed now more than ever.

We recognise that museums have a convening and healing role to play in bringing communities together to understand what has happened and to rebuild. We should also be clear in calling out and rejecting racism in every form and ensuring it has no place in a civilised society.

Here are some ways that museums might begin to help:

Collections – use our collections as a way of telling diverse and inclusive histories and giving a voice to untold stories and contemporary concerns
Buildings – open our spaces as safe places for communities to come together for respite, dialogue and healing
Programming – work to create inclusive events and exhibitions that support discussion of contemporary issues
Workforce – make sure staff, volunteers and all that work with us are cared for and supported, now and going forward
Communities – check in with the community organisations that we work with, listen to their concerns and make sure they know that we are there to support them

Here are some things that the MA is doing to support the sector:

Our Supporting Anti-racism online learning course aims to raise individual awareness and build confidence in taking action for anti-racism
Our Decolonisation and Anti-racism Steering Group has just been announced and will help guide our work and sector support
Our Anti-racist Museums Programme is supporting six museums across the UK to work towards becoming anti-racist organisations
We will produce tailored support for global majority staff, volunteers and consultants. There are also wellbeing resources available via our Wellbeing Hub

Please do get in touch if there is anything that the MA can do to support you as an individual or an institution, or to share any of your messaging or work in this area.

Useful organisations, resources and additional reading

Runnymede Trust HOPE not hate The Black Wellbeing Collective Bayo Hub of Hope Mind Shout Samaritans Video: Explaining Anti-Racism – Ibram X. Kendi Video: What white people can do to move race conversations forward – Caprice Hollins Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association: Message from our EDI Champion I Am Birmingham: Blacklash exhibition at Brimingham Museum Channel 4: Defiance: Fighting the Far Right NEON: Far Right Violence | A Messaging Guide

Thumbnail image: The Battle of Cable Street mural in Shadwell, Tower Hamlets, commemorating the defeat of fascist marchers by the people of East London in October 1936. Painted by Dave Binnington, Paul Butler, Ray Walker and Desmond Rochfort between 1979-83. Image via the Twentieth Century Society