Culture Minister responds to independent experts’
recommendations.
The recommendations of an independent group set up to advise on
how Scotland’s museums and galleries can better reflect the
country’s role in empire, colonialism, and historic slavery have
been fully accepted by the Scottish Government.
Established following a motion in the Scottish Parliament and
commitment in the 2020 Programme for Government, the Empire,
Slavery and Scotland’s Museums (ESSM) Steering Group published
six recommendations in 2022, for the recognition of Scotland’s
colonial and slavery history.
The recommendations include the creation of a dedicated space to
address Scotland’s role in empire, colonialism and historic
slavery, that museums involve the people of Scotland in shaping
their work, and that the Scottish Government demonstrates support
for restitution and repatriation of looted or unethically
acquired items in Scottish collections.
Culture Minister said:
“I warmly welcome the steering group’s report and
recommendations, which we have considered very carefully.
Following in-depth discussion with the steering group, I am
pleased to confirm the Scottish Government fully accepts all six
recommendations, including the creation of a dedicated space to
address Scotland’s role in empire, colonialism and historic
slavery.
“While budgetary pressures mean we are not currently able to
commit to the group’s suggestion of £5 million for this work, the
Scottish Government has provided funding of £200,000 in 2023/24
to enable the steering group and Museums Galleries Scotland to
begin work addressing the recommendations, including scoping out
the format of a new organisation to progress the creation of a
dedicated space and national guidance around the repatriation of
objects from Scottish institutions.
“The Scottish Government wants everyone to feel safe, welcome,
and represented in our cultural spaces. Though we cannot change
the past, it is within our power to learn from it and use that to
improve the experience of all people who live, work in and visit
Scotland, whilst celebrating the wide ranging and positive
contributions that ethnic minority communities have made and
continue to make to our society.”
Jatin Haria, elected Chair of the Steering Group and Executive
Director at the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights said:
"The ESSM recommendations came from widespread stakeholder
involvement, including the largest national study of attitudes to
museums and racism undertaken in Scotland. We welcome the
Scottish Government's acceptance of all six of our
recommendations, as well as the acknowledgement of all the
previous work that has got us to where we are today.
“The Steering Group is determined to work with the wider museum
sector to bring the recommendations to fruition. We understand
that finances are tight, and although more will be needed, the
money that the Scottish Government has committed will be useful
to kick start a long term process that will finally allow
Scotland to properly tell it's story of involvement in empire,
slavery and colonialism in a coherent way. We can't expect to
resolve the racial inequalities that persist today without a
better understanding of the history which brought us to this
point."
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said:
“MGS welcomes this significant announcement by the Scottish
Government and the recognition of the importance of undertaking
the work recommended by the Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s
Museums Steering Group.
“Since their publication in 2022, the recommendations have not
just shaped MGS’s work, but how we work as an organisation to
collectively support the sector to engage with, and tell the
stories of, all of Scotland’s people. We are already seeing
brilliant work by museums and galleries across the country
collaborating with local communities impacted by the legacies of
slavery and empire to create more inclusive heritage spaces. I am
excited about the future of a museum sector that is truly
inclusive, trusted and engaged with by all of Scotland’s people,
and the role that MGS can play in supporting this
work.”
Background
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the national development body
for Scotland's museum sector.
Empire, Slavery &
Scotland's Museums - Museums Galleries Scotland
The six recommendations of the Empire, Slavery and Scotland’s
Museums Steering Group’s report:
- Scotland should create a dedicated space to address our role
in empire, colonialism, and historic slavery. A new organisation
should be created to lead this work.
- Museums should ensure anti-racism is embedded in their
workplaces and public spaces.
- Museums should involve the people of Scotland in shaping
their work through co-production, to promote cultural democracy
and participation for all.
- Museums should commit to research, interpret, and share the
histories of Scotland’s links to empire, colonialism, and
historic slavery.
- Museums should support efforts to promote and embed race
equality and anti-racism in the curricula in a meaningful,
effective, and sustainable way.
- Scottish Government should demonstrate their support for
restitution and repatriation of looted or unethically acquired
items in Scottish collections.
