FOI request (FOIR-319856827)

Review authorities

Requested Fri 26 March 2021
Responded  Wed 07 April 2021

1. Could you please provide any list or review/report/survey of locations, objects and structures the organisation has produced with links to searchable terms:

"slavery", "colonialism", "empire/British Empire", "racism", "white supremacy", "Black Lives Matter", "decolonising"

A PDF format for this list would be preferred if possible. If it is simply in emails, that is fine.

2. In essence, I would like the answer to the question:

What material do you hold which entails a review/reappraisal/redisplay/alteration of items in relation to slavery, empire, colonialism or the 'Black Lives Matter' movement?

And to be provided with this review material/list of items highlighted in relation to these above issues.

Response

1. Hastings Borough Council has not produced any review/report/survey of locations, objects or structures with links to the searchable terms Slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising. Hastings Borough Council did approve an Indigenous Engagement Policy for Hastings Museum and Art Gallery (http://www.hmag.org.uk/content/about/our/60446).

The Policy sets out principles that the institution will follow when Indigenous people visit the museum or request information about its collections. It establishes processes that the museum's team will follow when working with Indigenous communities. It was developed in partnership with Indigenous communities and the Universities of Kent and East Anglia.

2. The museum collection includes a significant number of world culture objects collected over 130+ years in a range of circumstances. It is possible that some of the local and social history objects may also fall into this scope of this request. The museum recognises there are issues within the collections and displays and has a programme of work looking at improving our understanding of the collections. This work started in 2019 with the 'Wunderkammer' exhibition and is continuing through the 'What's in the box?' project. These projects involve working with underrepresented audiences to document and co-curate responses to the collections. The museum worked with local people of colour to respond to the 'Black Lives Matter' movement last year. Later this year, a new work stream looking at disabled peoples' representation in the collection will begin.