Decolonising Practice

Introducing our Decolonisation Working Group

In 2019 we established a Decolonisation Guidance Working Group to produce guidance for the sector on how to bring decolonial practice into all areas of museum practice in the UK. The group was established as a sub-group of our Ethics Committee following the publication of our Empowering Collections report, which recognised the lack of support and guidance for museums undertaking work to decolonise their collections and practice and recommended further action to bridge the gap between theory and practice in this area.

The group is currently drafting guidance which will:

1. Help museums to recognise the rationale for decolonising their practice relating to collections, interpretation, learning and engagement, audience development, programming, communications and workforce.
   
2. Support museums to understand decolonising practice
   
3. Provide practical advice to museums that want to take action to decolonise their practices

The Working Group has committed to working with transparency and is consulting with museums, museum professionals and networks with direct experience of decolonising practice and with sector organisations to inform its guidance.

Decolonisation Guidance Working Group Members