By Abeer Eladany, Trustee and Decolonisation Lead, ICOM UK
At ICOM UK, we recognise that the work of decolonisation is not a one-off project but a sustained, evolving commitment that must permeate every aspect of our practice. Decolonisation is a central theme in ICOM UK’s Strategic Plan 2025–30 and underpins all our current actions and future initiatives.
Our contribution to the review of the ICOM Code of Ethics is a clear demonstration of this commitment. In collaboration with the Standing Committee on Ethics (ETHCOM), we hosted an information session for our members, ensuring that they were informed, engaged, and empowered to contribute their views. The session attracted a good turnout, and a number of members subsequently provided valuable feedback on the draft Code. ICOM UK took responsibility for collating these comments and submitting a consolidated response on behalf of our members. The Board felt strongly that participating in this process was essential, ensuring that the revised Code reflects a genuine commitment to decolonisation, equity, and inclusion.
Building on this momentum, ICOM UK is in the process of creating a diverse expert group on decolonisation. This group will offer guidance to members and museums across the UK on embedding decolonial practices into their policies, exhibitions, and collection stewardship. Our approach will centre lived experience, cultural sensitivity, and ethical accountability, while also being informed by international best practice and Indigenous knowledge systems.
At Board level, we examine everything we do through a decolonisation lens, constantly asking how our decisions advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our Board is itself diverse, including members with a broad range of national and international museum experience, as well as individuals with lived experience of racism and strong connections to communities of origin. We are proud that our Board members and wider membership contribute actively to ICOM’s global work, participating in working groups, standing committees, and international projects that help shape the future of the museum sector.
We are in a strong position to drive meaningful change. As the only UK heritage organisation with a vast international network through ICOM, we are uniquely placed to facilitate conversations between museums in the UK and their counterparts around the world. These global connections are crucial if we are to build museums that are truly equitable – museums where Indigenous communities and communities of origin are not only consulted but are equal partners in co-curating exhibitions, shaping narratives, and reclaiming ownership over their histories and cultural heritage.
When difficult conversations arise about repatriation, restitution, rematriation, or the return of objects, we aim to be a trusted resource. If you have an item in the collection and are unsure whether it should be returned, or if you believe it may have been unethically acquired but don’t know where to start, we are here to support you. Our expert group, alongside our wider network of global partners, will help facilitate these discussions with sensitivity, rigour, and respect.
Beyond practical support, we also understand the emotional and psychological challenges that can come with decolonisation work. Engaging with collections connected to histories of trauma, violence, and loss can take a significant toll. As a sector, we must take care of one another. To this end, we will create an online peer-support forum, a safe space where museum professionals can share their experiences, reflect on difficult days, seek advice, and find solidarity without fear of judgment.
Our website will soon feature a dedicated space for resources, case studies, toolkits, and guidance documents. We want to amplify examples of good practice but also create a platform where people can share their struggles and questions, learning from one another as part of a supportive community. Skills exchange sessions with Indigenous communities and experts from around the world will form a key part of this programme, ensuring that learning is collaborative and reciprocal.
Ultimately, we aim for this initiative to be there for you, whether you’re just beginning to ask questions about the collections under your care, navigating complex restitution cases, or simply needing a supportive ear after engaging with a particularly difficult story.
We hope to build not just networks, but communities of care, courage, and transformation. Decolonisation can be challenging and emotional, but it is essential and vital work, and you don’t have to do it alone.
