Sessions and speakers confirmed for 2023 ICOM UK Conference

2023 ICOM UK Conference: addressing the legacies of colonialism nationally and internationally

In person, Monday 17 April – Tuesday 18 April 2023, Glasgow

Since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, there has been an increasing awareness of how racism shapes our societies around the world, and how that racism has its roots in colonialism.

Over one day of conference sessions, and a second day of local tours, museum professionals from across the UK and around the world will discuss how museums can meaningfully address the legacies of colonialism.

Sessions will explore big questions around reparations, climate justice, restitution, education, and what these topics mean to museums, and how can we meaningfully grapple with them.

Confirmed sessions and speakers:

Reparations and MuseumsProfessor Anthony Bogues, Asa messer Professor of Humanities and Critical Theory, Professor of Africana Studies, Director of the Center of the Study of Slavery and Justice, Brown University, USA

Centring the enslaved: In-conversation session with Paul Gardullo, National Museum of African American History and Culture (USA), Zandra Yeaman, The Hunterian (UK), Nelson Cummins, Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (UK)

Working through climate and political crises while your home is being destroyed: Session convened by Sahar Beyad, National Museums Liverpool (UK) with panel of speakers: Patricia Allan, Glasgow Museums (UK) + additional speakers TBC

Interpreting and dismantling colonial education: Rianna Walcott, Researcher, Activist, Journalist, Editor, Musician (currently based in the USA) + additional speakers TBC

On Monday 17 April there will be an informal meet up for conference delegates in a local bar after the conference.

On Tuesday 18 April there will be guided visits to museums in Glasgow, including The Hunterian and Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Details of a Black History city walk by CRER (Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights) will be confirmed shortly.

The ICOM UK 2023 Conference is a collaboration between ICOM UK, NMDC and Glasgow Life, with support from National Museums Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland and Barker Langham.