Opportunity: Join our Anti-racist Museums Programme
About the programme
We are launching a pilot programme to create and work with a cohort of museums that are actively working towards becoming anti-racist organisations.
Museums are in a unique position to confront systemic racism because of our engagement with diverse audiences and communities, and due to the tangible and ideological links between collections and Britain’s imperial past. Anti-racism and decolonisation must be central to making museums sustainable and accessible for the future.
The Anti-racist Museums Programme is one element of the MA’s ongoing anti-racism action plan, which also includes support to sector anti-racism initiatives, creating an Anti-racism and Decolonisation Steering Group and supporting skills development through our online learning courses for MA members.
This is a time-limited programme that presents an opportunity to create meaningful change in the UK museum sector through organisational and professional development. It is our hope that the programme will create a thriving network of museums and leaders that are committed to personal and organisational change; collaboration and peer learning; and being at the forefront of anti-racist practice in UK museums.
Made up of six half-day learning sessions, five half-day facilitated learning set sessions and two individual coaching calls, this programme will equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to explore issues relating to racism within the sector, as well as the tools and action plans for critically exploring how their own institutions could be perpetuating systemic racism. The Anti-racist Museums Programme will be an intensive, rewarding and supported experience with an emphasis on “self as an instrument of change”.
About the facilitators
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of three expert facilitators to lead the programme: Cheryl Garvey, Julian Walker and Tara Munroe.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for applications from museums in all four nations of the UK, that can:
- Commit named senior leaders to all the learning sessions listed below.
- Demonstrate that they are ready for the opportunity of participating in this programme.
- Make a strong case for the change they can make at individual and organisational levels.
- Represent the potential for positive change in the UK museum sector towards anti-racism.
Participants must be MA institutional members and, as a pilot programme, we will seek to create a balanced cohort (see selection criteria in the recruitment pack for details). Participation is free, and the programme is an outstanding opportunity to bring together individual professional development and organisational development on a topic that is vital for the future health, relevance and role of museums in the UK.
Timeline and key dates
- 11 March 2024: Drop-in session
- 8 April 2024: Drop-in session
- 14 April 2024: Applications close
- 7 to 9 May 2024: Online interviews
- 16 May 2024: Museum cohort announced
- TBC: Introduction session (circa one hour)
- 4 June 2024: Learning session (am), action learning set (pm)
- 2 July 2024: Learning session (am), action learning set (pm)
- 16 July 2024: Learning session (am), action learning set (pm)
- 10 September 2024: Learning session (am), action learning set (pm)
- 1 October 2024: Learning session (am), action learning set (pm)
- 5 November 2024: Learning session (am)
Coaching calls will take place individually by appointment with the facilitators.
How to apply
The closing date for applications is 11.59pm on 14 April 2024.
Please read through the recruitment pack linked below and send your completed application form, also available below, to Joshua Robertson via joshua@museumsassociation.org.
To discuss your application and ask any questions, please contact Joshua via the email above.