Conference 2019 highlights

Subhadra Das is a historian, history of science communicator, comedian, writer and museum curator at UCL Culture, where she works with the UCL Pathology and Science Collections.

Three institutions formed during periods of colonial expansion, trade and exploitation reflect on efforts to re-frame their collections.

A panel discussion on the complicated and diverse identities within England, and how important this issue is within current debates.

Climate crisis activist and environmental lawyer Farhana Yamin joined the Extinction Rebellion climate action group in 2018 as coordinator of its political team. She was arrested earlier this year for gluing herself to the London headquarters of oil giant, Shell.

Heledd Fychan, the head of policy and public affairs at Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales) addresses the pressing ethical issues that the sector faces in its work with the public.

Sharon Heal examines our ethical responsibility to address the critical issues of climate crisis, restitution and the decolonisation and democratisation of our collections and institutions.

In this keynote speech Maggie describes her vision for the future of the museum sector and the MA’s role in that vision.

Following the controversy over Icom’s proposed new definition of a museum a panel of experts discuss what the purpose and definition of a museum should be in the 21st century.

Ahdaf Soueif, who recently resigned as a trustee of London’s British Museum in protest at the institution’s position on issues such as sponsorship, outsourcing and repatriation, delivers the final keynote talk of the Brighton conference, in conversation with the writer Rachel Holmes.

This panel reviews different approaches to understanding, sharing and democratising collections and institutions to expose the difficult stories behind our major institutions and collections.

At a time of unchecked global biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, natural science collections offer major opportunities to support the conservation of global biodiversity.

This session reflects on the skills required by today’s curators of world cultures collections. Provocations from speakers involved in recent pioneering projects support wider discussions among delegates.

This panel session focuses on African collections in UK museums and discusses initiatives focusing on relationships rather than primarily on objects.

Exploring the implications of #MeToo for museums and galleries from an ethical perspective.

Clayton Thomas-Müller is a campaigner for indigenous rights and environmental and economic justice.