Description
Book SynopsisThe cry for decolonization has echoed throughout the museum world. Although perhaps most audibly heard in the case of ethnographic museums, many different types of museums have felt the need to engage in decolonial practices. Amidst those who have argued that an institution as deeply colonial as the museum cannot truly be decolonized, museum staff and museologists have been approaching the issue from different angles to practice decoloniality in any way they can. Practicing Decoloniality in Museums: A Guide with Global Examples collects a wide range of practices from museums whose audiences, often highly diverse, come together in sometimes contentious conversations about pasts and futures. Although there are no easy or uniform answers as to how best to deal with colonial pasts, this collection of practices functions as an accessible toolkit from which museum staff can choose in order to experiment with and implement methods according to their own needs and situations. The practices are divided thematically and include, among others, methods for decentering, improving transparency, and increasing inclusivity.
Table of ContentsIntroduction
What is the problem?
What is in this book?
For whom is this book?
How to design your own decolonial practice
1 Creating Visibility
The challenge
The change
International Slavery Museum (UK)
Tropenmuseum (NL)
Mutare Museum (ZW)
Belmont Estate (GD)
Further reading
Further examples
2 Increasing Inclusivity
The challenge
The change
Corona in the City | Amsterdam Museum (NL)
GLOW | Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (US)
Museum of London (UK)
Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey (JM)
Further reading
Further examples
3 Decentering
The challenge
The change
Memento Park (HU)
Dress Code: Are You Playing Fashion? | National Museum of Modern Art (JP)
Spitzmaus Mummy in a Coffin and Other Treasures | Kunsthistorisches Museum (AT)
Indigenous ‘Museum-like’ Centers (CA & US)
Further reading
Further examples
4 Championing Empathy
The challenge
The change
National Museum of African American History and Culture (US)
Museo Tula (CW)
POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews (PL)
Tate Modern (UK)
Further reading
Further examples
5 Improving Transparency
The challenge
The change
International Inventories Program | National Museum Nairobi & Goethe-Institut Kenya (KY)
The Past Is Now | Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (UK)
Museum of British Colonialism (KY & UK)
Musee des Civilisations Noires (SN)
Further reading
Further examples
6 Embracing Vulnerability
The challenge
The change
The Museum of Others | Pitt Rivers Museum (UK)
Scaffold | Walker Art Center (US)
Muzeum krytyczne (Critical Museum) by Piotr Piotrowski (PL)
Voices from the Colonies | National Museum of Denmark (DK)
Further reading
Further examples
Concluding Remarks
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Author Biographies
References
Index
