MSPs hear how Scottish museums are addressing colonial legacies

Museums from across Scotland met with members of the Scottish Parliament this week to talk about how they are addressing the country’s role in empire, colonialism and historic slavery.

At a reception organised by Museums Galleries Scotland, and attended by sector representatives including the Museums Association, MSPs from across the political spectrum heard about how cultural institutions are taking on board the recommendations of the Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums (ESSM) Steering Group.

The Scottish Government accepted the group’s recommendations, which include creating a dedicated space to tell Scotland's colonial history, earlier this year.

More than 100 people attended the reception from across the museum sector, the equalities community and other stakeholders. Several MSPs joined the reception, including members of the parliament’s culture committee, and the tourism minister. 

The event was sponsored by Foysol Choudhury MSP, convener of the cross-party group on culture and communities, who told the audience: “Museums have the power to challenge our perceptions, to encourage us to confront the uncomfortable truths of our past, and to inspire us to build a more just and inclusive future.” 

He called on people to “challenge the status quo and build a Scotland where everyone, regardless of their race or background, can see themselves reflected in our shared history.” 

Culture secretary Angus Robertson said in a video message: “Scotland’s museums and galleries should be safe spaces that represent all our communities and should reflect our nation’s past. It’s by collectively challenging privilege that we will enact change.” 

He welcomed the creation of the new Repatriation and Restitution working group by MGS, which is led by Neil Curtis from the University of Aberdeen, and added: “By working together, I believe we will make a fairer Scotland to better, improve, and enrich the lives of those who live, work, and visit here.” 

MGS team member Sheila Asante spoke about Delivering Change, the three-year programme she manages, which was developed in response to the ESSM recommendations.

The programme is a collective effort between MGS and museums, galleries, and local groups to build relationships with systemically excluded communities. Asante told how MGS is supporting 19 Museum Transformers, and 100 Museum Activists on their anti-oppression journeys. 

Delivering Change is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, People’s Postcode Lottery, and the Scottish Government. 

Professor Churnjeet Mahn, who sits on the ESSM steering group gave a personal perspective, explaining that her parents were born as subjects of the British empire and migrated to Glasgow in the 1960s. Families such as hers are part of Scotland’s story, she said, and that story involved wealth gained by the stripping of assets of overseas communities.  

The ESSM steering group is working to deliver its first recommendation, that Scotland should create a dedicated space and new organisation to address our role in empire, colonialism, and historic slavery.

During the event, attendees were able to meet a variety of organisations to understand how museums are embedding anti-racism in their workplaces and public spaces. 

MSPs spoke to a range of national and local organisations from across Scotland, including the Hunterian, the National Museum of Scotland, the University of Aberdeen, Perth Museum, the University of Edinburgh, Museums and Galleries Edinburgh, Paisley Museum, Cromarty Courthouse, Glasgow School of Art, the Watt Institution, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, and MGS’ Delivering Change team. 

MGS said: “A key point we got across with this event was that many museums are starting out on a journey – there’s still lots of work to do. 

“We know this subject is due to come up at a future meeting of the parliament’s culture committee, so this was a timely opportunity to keep politicians updated and engaged. 

“Scotland’s museums and galleries rank amongst the most visited attractions in the UK, so they are vital to our international cultural reputation. This also makes them key to combatting institutional racism and tackling inequalities. We look forward to continuing to advocate for the sector as we make progress on this important journey.”

MA director Sharon Heal said: “We were delighted to attend the parliamentary reception on museums addressing the legacies of empire and slavery and to raise awareness of the role of museums in confronting systemic racism and addressing the legacy of British colonialism. 

“The reception was a great opportunity to highlight the fantastic work that has been achieved so far while acknowledging that there is more that needs to be done.

“The MA is committed to supporting museums on their journey to decolonise and become anti-racist institutions. The MA’s decolonisation guidance and Anti-racist Museums Programme are two initiatives which aim to empower the sector to lead change.”