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International Slavery Museum to close from 5 January for redevelopment
Venue to host traditional libation ceremony to mark significant moment in museum’s history
The International Slavery Museum in Liverpool has confirmed that it will close its doors to visitors on 5 January ahead of its major redevelopment project.
Staff, visitors and community members will come together at the museum from 3.30pm that day to hold a traditional libation ceremony welcoming the next phase of the museum.
The ceremony, which will be led by community elders and spiritual leaders, includes the ritual pouring of a liquid as an offering or in memory of ancestors and a multilingual blessing to reflect the global impact of the transatlantic slave trade.
There will also be a collective moment of silence to reflect on the lives lost to slavery and the resilience of those who endured.
Michelle Charters, head of the International Slavery Museum, said: “A libation, steeped in symbolism and meaning is a fitting way to mark this point for the International Slavery Museum.
“This simple but meaningful act will give visitors a last chance to say goodbye to the galleries for a short while, thank all of those who have supported our work and got us this far, and most importantly, find a moment of connection, remembrance and respect to the ancestors whose story we tell.”
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National Museums Liverpool’s (NML) plan to redevelop its slavery and maritime museums, part of a wider Waterfront Transformation Project, was granted planning permission in October.
Essential repairs and maintenance works will start shortly after the doors shut to visitors, although the redevelopment is still subject to funding.
The proposal is for both museums to reopen in 2028, with an adjacent building, previously a Dock Traffic Office, transformed into a new entrance pavilion for the slavery museum.
A new iron and glass bridge will connect visitors to the museum’s galleries in Hartley Pavilion, providing views over the Royal Albert Dock.
The Waterfront Transformation Project hit a setback earlier this year after the UK Government said it was "minded to withdraw" £10m in Levelling Up funding allocated to the redevelopment under the previous government, along with further cuts to other major cultural projects. A consultation with the affected projects is currently underway.