National Museums NI

Addressing colonial legacies with Global Voices Local Choices

National Museums NI partnered with the African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland (ACSONI) and Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) to deliver Global Voices Local Choices, a project which addresses colonial legacies through bringing diverse cultures and perspectives into local and national museums across Northern Ireland.

National Museums NI made available its world cultures collection to initiate conversations on decolonisation, inclusion and diversity; NIMC brought its network of accredited local museums, who are brokering partnerships with local community groups and providing suitable space for creative outputs and displays; and ACSONI’s anti-racism advocacy within the ethnic minority community amid increased global awareness surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement positioned it to facilitate authentic access to the community and its experiences.

The partnership secured commitment from six marginalised ethnic minority groups in six boroughs across Northern Ireland. Each group attended six creative workshops at their local museum, resulting in six displays. Participants got to make choices about how world cultures collections are interpreted, challenging narrow perspectives upheld by collectors and curators.

The voices of those directly connected to colonialism were amplified and their cultural perspectives and stories included, making displays richer. As a result of the exchange of expertise, curators are more confident in presenting world cultures collections and inclusive global histories.

While the team behind the project awaits a formal report from evaluators, it celebrates some outcomes in the community, with collections, and with partner organisations and local museums.

Marginalised communities felt more involved in and positive about the work of museums, with feedback showing that many enjoyed the programme, felt empowered, and are proud of their contribution to museum work. Six community groups comprising 63 individuals engaged with the programme through talks, tours, workshops and the co-curation of displays.

Objects from the world cultures collection have been shared, better understood and celebrated for the richness and diversity of stories they hold. There was also joy to be found in the intercultural dialogue, and learning from the expertise of individuals in community groups and the African Caribbean workshops.

The partners have been developing a united and informed approach to decolonisation, and the museums have developed their skills and confidence in working in this area through the project itself and through dialogue and learning from one another. Partners are now working to develop equitable decolonisation guidance specific to Northern Ireland.

Global Voices Local Choices was shortlisted for the Decolonising Museums Award at the Museums Change Lives Awards 2023.