Hull Museums is part of a new national network that will look at the representation of transatlantic slavery and legacies in museums.
The forum, launched today to coincide with Slavery Remembrance Day, is led by National Museums Liverpool and includes Glasgow Museums, Museum of London, Black Cultural Archives, Bristol Culture and Hull Museums.
The Transatlantic Slavery and Legacies in Museums Forum is the first national network of its kind to share current discourse and support a narrative thread to fully represent slavery and its legacies in the UK.
There has never been greater demand to understand the origins of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and discuss its legacies. In 2020, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement due to the continued racially motivated violence against Black people across the world, and the immense response from the public and inside the cultural sector, demonstrated the vital need for information around the subject.
Laura Pye, director of National Museums Liverpool, said: “We are delighted to launch this forum which will explore the positive work that is already underway throughout the UK to highlight the history and profound impact of the transatlantic slave trade.
“This forum will also provide a safe and much needed support network for museums who are focusing their efforts to better tell, engage and contextualise this horrific part of our history, which is often ignored.
“By addressing this complex topic collectively, we can further spark discussions and transparent dialogue and continue to improve awareness within the sector. I look forward to working with our founding partners and wider sector as together we move forward in addressing our past.”
The Forum is open to all museums, galleries, archives, heritage organisations and their community partners.
Two free events will take place in Liverpool later this year. The official launch event will take place on 8 November to coincide with the annual conference of the Museums Association and the second event will be a one-day symposium on 10 December at the International Slavery Museum and online.
You can find out more here.
