Anti-racist Museums Programme
Launching now
We are launching a pilot programme to work with a cohort of museums that are actively working towards becoming anti-racist organisations.
Museums are in a unique position to confront systemic racism because of our engagement with diverse audiences and communities, and due to the tangible and ideological links between collections and Britain’s imperial past. Anti-racism and decolonisation must be central to making museums sustainable and accessible for the future.
We’re delighted to confirm that the Anti-racist Museums Programme cohort comprises:
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
- Birmingham Museums Trust
- Fulham Palace
- Migration Museum
- Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
- Museums and Galleries Edinburgh
The Anti-racist Museums Programme is one element of the MA’s ongoing anti-racism action plan, which also includes support to sector anti-racism initiatives, creating an Anti-racism and Decolonisation Steering Group and supporting skills development through our online learning courses for MA members.
The programme presents an opportunity to create meaningful change in the UK museum sector through organisational and professional development. It is our hope that it will create a thriving network of museums and leaders that are committed to personal and organisational change; collaboration and peer learning; and being at the forefront of anti-racist practice in UK museums.
Made up of six half-day learning sessions, five half-day facilitated learning set sessions and two individual coaching calls, this programme will equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to explore issues relating to racism within the sector, as well as the tools and action plans for critically exploring how their own institutions could be perpetuating systemic racism.
We’re pleased to be working with three expert facilitators to deliver the programme: Cheryl Garvey, Julian Walker and Tara Munroe.
Joshua Robertson, policy and campaigns officer at the Museums Association, said: “I am proud to launch the Anti-racist Museums Programme, the culmination of months of dedicated work and thoughtful collaboration. This comprehensive initiative is designed to guide museums through a transformative journey towards embedding inclusivity and equity at their core.
“Through rigorous analysis of self and practice, strategic planning and extensive training, this programme is dedicated to addressing and dismantling systemic racism. It stands as a testament to a growing commitment to ensuring that our museums truly decolonise and begin to serve the diverse communities that they seek to represent.”