‘Racism’ guidance to museums sparks row
MUSEUMS have been told their collections are “racist” and they need to “decolonise” them in new guidance which has sparked a major row with the Government.
Government sources last night condemned the 40-page guidance from the Museums Association titled, Supporting Decolonisation in Museums, with sources saying it was “polarising”.
The new guidance from the association, which has 8,000 members including gallery and heritage professionals, museums and galleries, could lead to items being returned to their countries.
The document – published this week – was intended to “empower more people to take action and lead change as museums address the legacy of British colonialism”. It said: “Many museums in the UK are part of the legacy of British colonialism through the collections they steward, their institutional histories, structures and wealth, and the stories they tell.
“Throughout history museums have helped to make the case for colonialism by collecting and cataloguing empire, and by advancing racist and prejudiced views of the world.
“Such views and attitudes still exist today – museums can and must play their part in righting past wrongs and creating a better world for all those affected by colonialism.”
The guidance includes a section dealing with “repatriation and restitution”.
It added: “With the exception of some national museums, most items in the ownership of museums in the UK are covered by UK property laws, and the owners can determine if and how to transfer ownership or repatriate an item, subject to any conditions placed on individual items (such as a legacy).”
Sharon Heal, of the Museums Association, said: “It is vital museums engage in these discussions and reappraise their own historical role in empire.”
However, last night Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense group of Tory MPS, said: “Museums’ tasks are to be the custodians of the rich history of both this country and others… It is not their task to twist history, warp their mission or distort the future.”
A culture department source said: “We are concerned by the Museum Association’s decision to put out this guidance which we think is polarising.”
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “The Government has a clear position on contested heritage. We do not support the removal of historic objects.”