The Prime Minister has said that “we really are at risk of a kind of know-nothing cancel culture iconoclasm”. In his speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, he said:

“We are led by our values, by the things we stand for, and we should never forget that people around the world admire this country for its history and traditions […] They like it for the way it emerges organically from a vast inherited conglomerate of culture and tradition. We conservatives understand the need for both and how each nourishes the other, and we attack and deny our history at our peril. When they began to attack Churchill as a racist, I was minded to ignore them because it is only 20 years ago since BBC audiences overwhelmingly voted him the greatest Briton of all time because he helped defeat a regime, after all, that was defined by one of the most vicious racisms the world has ever seen. But as time has gone by it has become clear to me that this isn’t just a joke; they really do want to re-write our national story, starting with Hereward the Woke. We really are at risk of a kind of know-nothing cancel culture iconoclasm.  And so we Conservatives will defend our history and cultural inheritance, not because we are proud of everything but because trying to edit it now is as dishonest as a celebrity trying furtively to change his entry in Wikipedia, and it’s a betrayal of our children’s education.”

Source: Prime Minister’s Speech – Conservative Party Conference 2021 - Youtube

 

 

Oriel College Oxford has installed an explanatory panel below the statue of Cecil Rhodes. It reads:
 

“This building was constructed by Oriel College in 1909-11 with money left from the will of Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902), a former student of the college. The college commissioned a series of statues to front the building which included Rhodes at the top.

Rhodes, a committed British colonialist, obtained his fortune through exploitation of minerals, land, and peoples of southern Africa. Some of his activities led to great loss of life and attracted criticism ever since.

In recent years, the statue has become a focus for public debate on racism and the legacy of colonialism. In June 2020, Oriel College declared its wish to remove the statue but is not doing so following legal and regulatory advice.
Find out more: www.oriel.ox.ac.uk/rhodes-contextualisation”

Source: Contextualisation of the Rhodes Legacy – Oriel College Oxford
Oxford college installs plaque calling Cecil Rhodes a ‘committed colonialist’ – The Guardian –  11/10/21
 

 

 

Denbigh Town Council will hold a consultation in October to decide if a statue of Sir Henry Morton Stanley should be removed.

In a statement, the council said:

“Concerns have been raised regarding the H M Stanley statue located outside the library in Denbigh. Petitions have been created requesting its removal.

“Denbigh Town Council takes this request seriously and will review the situation as soon as possible taking into account the current Covid 19 pandemic and its restrictions.

“The town council will also liaise with the Welsh Assembly in relation to other statues in Wales and the overall consensus of what action needs to be taken.”

The sculpture shows the moment Stanley uttered the famous phrase – “Dr Livingstone, I presume?” – when he found the explorer in east Africa in 1871.

A number of protests have been held against the presence of the statue in the town, which have seen it temporarily covered up.

Simon Jones, who launched the petition against it, said: “Out of respect to the Black Lives Matter campaign, the statue of Stanley should be removed from Denbigh town centre immediately.

“This man was known for his brutal treatment of Africans to the extent that he used to shoot black children from his boat to calibrate his rifle sights while sailing down river.

“A statue to a man like that has no place in Welsh society in 2020. It is an insult to African people that it stands pride of place in the town.”
 
Sources: 
Petition: Remove the statue of Stanley from Denbigh town centre – Change.org
Public consultation on whether or not HM Stanley statue stays in Denbigh takes place in October – Denbighshire Free Press – 30/07/2021

 

 

Cass Business School will be renamed after statistician Thomas Bayes from September 2021. In a statement, the business school said:
 
“The Business School (formerly Cass) will be renamed as 'Bayes Business School' from September 2021. In July 2020, the Business School committed to changing its name after it was found that some of Sir John Cass’s wealth was obtained through his links to the slave trade.

The decision to select Bayes Business School was based on a comprehensive and transparent consultation process with relevant stakeholders. We invited the City community to suggest names through an online platform, generating more than 150 potential names. Over 8,000 members of staff and current and prospective Business School students and alumni gave us feedback on the shortlisted names. Bayes Business School emerged as the clear favourite.

Thomas Bayes (1702-1761) was a nonconformist theologian and mathematician best known for his foundational work on conditional probability. His grave is in Bunhill Fields, opposite the Business School.  Bayes’ theorem suggests that we get closer to the truth by constantly updating our beliefs in proportion to the weight of new evidence. It is this idea – not only the person – that is the motivation behind adopting this name.

Bayes’ ideas are central to Finance, Actuarial Science and many branches of Management, the core disciplines of the Business School. They are also the foundation of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The new name will formally launch on Monday 6th September 2021 – the beginning of the 2021/22 academic year. Until this point, the School will continue to be referred to as ‘The Business School (formerly Cass)’.

Professor Paolo Volpin, Dean of the Business School (formerly Cass), said:
“In Bayes Business School, we believe we now have a name that reflects who we are and the values we hold.  Even though Bayes lived a long time ago, his ideas and his name are very much connected to the future rather than the past.

“More than 8,000 staff, Business School students and alumni contributed to the consultation process to help us find our new name. We are very grateful for their passionate contribution. We have listened to all of our stakeholders carefully and taken their concerns seriously.

“I am proud of the new name and the steps we are taking to build a truly inclusive environment for all of our students, staff and alumni.”

Ms Julia Palca, Chair of City’s Council said:
“The Bayes theorem matters for our Business School – we are located in the heart of a financial centre, a tech centre and one of the great cosmopolitan cities of the world.

“His ideas remind us that we want our Bayes Business School students to become business leaders who can think clearly about the uncertain future we face.

“Continued use of Sir John Cass’s name would have honoured someone whose wealth was augmented from the exploitation of slavery, which is wholly incompatible with our values of diversity and inclusion.”

Professor Sir Paul Curran, President, City, University of London, said:
“The renaming of the Business School marks the start of a new chapter in City’s history, but certainly not the end of our work to address racial inequality.

“Last summer, City embarked on a review of historic sources of funding to learn lessons from the past. We have been listening to our community and are pursuing actions to ensure that City is a diverse and inclusive place to work and study

“These actions go beyond simply changing a name and are intended to improve our curriculum and the lives of our University community.”
 
Changing more than a name
The University has committed to addressing issues surrounding inequality and opportunity, particularly around race and ethnicity.

City has committed to funding five PhD scholarships for Black British students each year (one for each of City’s five Schools, including the Business School) and further details will be announced shortly.

Other important work at City has included applying for Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter status, continuing to address the Degree Awarding Gap, and working in partnership with students and our Students’ Union to address issues of underrepresentation.

The Business School will also launch a significant scholarship programme for Black UK-domiciled undergraduate students to improve underrepresentation within the School. This programme will run for ten years from 2022/23 and offer ten scholarships per year, covering all tuition fees and an annual stipend.
The Business School has established a Diversity and Inclusion Council to cover all aspects of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work. It has also formed a Racial Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group, comprising students, faculty, professional staff and alumni from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME*) backgrounds, who are working to improve student and staff progression and experience.

Significant work is also underway at the Business School to further embed ethical and socially responsible values into the curriculum. The School’s aim is to develop responsible business leaders who will build a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future.

Find out more
Read more about the process that was undertaken to select a new name, and find out further information on the FAQs page.”
 
Source: 
The Business School (formerly Cass) to be renamed Bayes Business School from September 2021
 
 

 

NHS Lothian has said that the facilities it inherited had benefited from funds raised from the profits of slavery. It has also undertaken a review of its art collection to ensure it is “reflective of a wide and diverse culture”. 
 
A joint statement from NHS Lothian and Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation.
We are aware that hospitals across Lothian have benefited from funds realised from the Atlantic slave trade. With colonialism and slavery being central to the national economy from the 17th to the 19th centuries, both Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation and NHS Lothian can be considered as joint descendants of the legacies of these donations and endowments.

We do not believe that there is a limitation period on such contributions and have a responsibility to address this legacy of colonialism, racism and slavery and use this learning to help remove inequality and shape a positive future for all.

We have made a commitment to research, understand and acknowledge our history so that we can learn from it and act. We will:

• create a consultative advisory group, with representation from staff, patient, and community groups, to help guide and shape the research, learning and related outputs.
• fund a research post to review archive evidence and secondary sources to compile a thorough documented history of the links between the old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Atlantic slave trade. (Funded by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation)
• use the research to guide outcomes and outputs and make recommendations for action to the NHS Board
• seek to work alongside other institutions (such as the University of Edinburgh) who are undertaking similar reflective exercises.   

The impact of the roots of the slave trade is evident in the inequalities that we see today, with COVID-19 exacerbating and giving a public spotlight to these inequalities. As an employer and healthcare provider we state without reservation that all staff and patients must be treated equally, irrespective of skin colour, culture, religion, sexuality, age, disability or gender. We support the fundamental need for equality and inclusion at the heart of what we stand for. It is important that all staff and representatives of NHS Lothian, treat one another with care, compassion, dignity, and respect. These are a key part of our organisation values.
 
Working to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do
We believe better health for all is within our reach and in no way condone the actions of historical donors. Acknowledging and understanding this history and using this learning to inform our corporate objectives will support us to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation and help us to tackle racism, discrimination and inequality.

Though we have much to learn and more work to do, ongoing reviews of our internal processes and systems have already led to positive, practical changes in the way we work. The following examples outline work that is already taking place:

• Staff Networks

We have established four Equalities Staff Networks, and committed to increasing support for them, and potentially further networks in the coming year.  At present we have vibrant groups as follows;

• Black & Ethnic Minority Staff Network
• Disabled Employee Network
• LGBT+ Staff & Allies Network
• Youth Staff Network
• Corporate Objective and Workplans

Our Corporate Objective 2021 – 22 on race, ethnicity and diversity demonstrate our commitment to act now – starting with a facilitated series of one to one and group discussions involving our Corporate Management Team and Staff Network members

• Advancing Equality Action Plan 2021-22

Our detailed Advancing Equality Action Plan 2021-22 was devised and agreed with members of all our staff networks over a series of workshops in Spring 2021

• 360 Visions 

Managed by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation's Tonic Arts programme, 360 Visions uses theatre, storytelling, music and filmmaking to understand NHS Lothian BME staff experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic from an equalities perspective and explores the multi-faceted challenges faced not only by BME staff, but also by Disabled, LGBT+ and Youth staff members. The aim is to help open a door for all colleagues to gain awareness of the difficulties faced on a daily basis, both in and outside of work, and why change needs to happen. It bridges a gap to enable staff to further educate themselves about the daily struggles, in order to create a culture of inclusivity, diversity and acceptance which allows positive changes to be achieved. NHS Lothian has come a long way to improve culture and diversity, but COVID-19 has reinforced that there is still work to be done. As part of this ongoing work, the 360 Visions creative programme will help provide a platform for diverse viewpoints to be voiced and heard, celebrating the incredible work and diversity of NHS Lothian.

• Reflecting Diversity in our Art Collection 

Our Art Collection plays an important role in the improved health and wellbeing of staff, patients and visitors with over 2,750 artworks displayed across over 40 NHS Lothian sites. We have undertaken a review of our collection to ensure this is reflective of a wide and diverse culture.

• Review of EDI practices within our funded programmes

Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation's Tonic Arts team is working with Knowledge Bridge to help embed EDI as a core part of the Tonic Arts programme. Knowledge Bridge is working with the Tonic Arts team to review the current programme and develop an inclusive strategy, advising on how to develop a more diverse and inclusive Arts in Health programme for NHS Lothian.  
 
Source: 
A joint statement from NHS Lothian and Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation – 30/08/2021
 

 

Goldsmiths University has launched a consultation on whether to remove statues of Sir Francis Drake, Robert Blake, Lord Horatio Nelson, and an anonymous representative naval figure over alleged slave trade links.
 
In a statement, the university said:

This is a public consultation by Goldsmiths, University of London about the future of four statues on the front of Deptford Town Hall, which is part of our campus, with a focus on the views of people in the Lewisham area.

We want local communities to have their say about these statues and also welcome views from those outside the area with a particular interest in this building and its links to Deptford’s maritime history. We want people to tell us what they think should happen to the statues of Sir Francis Drake, Cromwellian admiral Robert Blake, Lord Horatio Nelson, and an anonymous representative naval figure. These four figures either have links to Britain’s role in slavery or the colonial system that supported slavery. Options include retaining the statues with further explanation, altering some or all of the statues, or removing some or all of the statues. 

Goldsmiths does not have a policy position on the statues and we are undertaking a public consultation to understand the depth of feeling on this matter.

The results of the consultation will be part of a range of information shared with Goldsmiths’ Council, the decision-making body of the university, as part of discussions over the future of the statues.

If a decision is made to make changes to the statues and the building Goldsmiths would need to make a planning application to Lewisham Council.

As part of any such application, local authorities must now consider legislation published in January 2021 which the government introduced to “protect England’s cultural and historical heritage” and which can extend to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. More detail on this process is given below. 

The consultation takes place in the context of a national conversation about the contested heritage of statues of historical figures. Historic England recognises that there are “historic statues and sites which have become symbols of injustice and a source of great pain for many people”. In particular there has been increased focus on statues representing figures with links to slavery and colonialism.

The consultation responds to one of the demands of Goldsmiths Anti-Racist Action (GARA), a Black and Person of Colour-led student campaign group founded at Goldsmiths in 2019. Read a statement from GARA (PDF).
 
History of Deptford Town Hall
Deptford Town Hall was built in 1905 as the municipal centre for the then-Metropolitan Borough of Deptford, which merged administratively with Lewisham in the 1960s. The building was acquired by Goldsmiths in 1998 and is Grade II listed, meaning it is has certain protections under law. It is used for teaching, hosting public events including concerts and lectures and administration. 

The four statues in niches on the front of Deptford Town Hall are Sir Francis Drake, Robert Blake, Lord Horatio Nelson, and a representative naval figure from the early 20th century. The figures depict the naval history of Britain with Deptford’s “nautical associations” providing the inspiration for the statues, according to Historic England.
 
Context of the statues
The historical figures portrayed in the four statues either have links to Britain’s role in slavery or the colonial system which supported slavery.

Britain’s involvement in slavery is not considered a source of national pride by modern values and it is the abolition of slavery that is often centred in the national conversation, as opposed to the harm it caused.
Student and staff groups at Goldsmiths believe that there should be a focus on the ongoing legacy of slavery and its impact on contemporary life – with concerns raised that the Deptford Town Hall statues glorify imperial dominance and play an active role in perpetuating racism today.

Over the past 12 months, a national debate has emerged about how best to reconcile the symbolism of some statues of historical figures with an increasingly diverse British identity.

Some have argued that retaining such statues serves as a reminder of a past that merits enquiry and challenge, with further work around interpretation and possibly re-contextualisation required, while others believe such statues should be removed from their prominent positions.
 
Why you should you take part
It is really important that every voice is heard in Goldsmiths' consultation, whether you’re a student, colleague, local resident or member of the wider community. Deptford Town Hall, while owned by Goldsmiths, has a role in our community and it is crucial that as many people as possible share their views.
As our consultation has been designed to be anonymous we will not ask you to provide any information that would identify you as part of your response.
 
Source: Deptford Town Hall Statues – Goldsmiths University – 01/09/2021
 

 

Jane Austen’s House has said their decision to update displays with information on slavery links has been ‘misrepresented’. The Telegraph had reported that the museum would update its displays with information on Austen’s links to slavery through her father, George Austen, who was the trustee of an Antigua sugar plantation, and would also be looking at how “Austen’s tea drinking, a key social ceremony in her era and her novels, also links the writer to the exploitation of the British empire”.
 
Statement from Jane Austen’s House:
“The plans for refreshing the displays and decoration of Jane Austen’s House have been misrepresented. Jane Austen lived during the era of slavery and the Abolition by Britain of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in 1807. We are increasingly asked questions about this by our visitors and it is therefore appropriate that we share the information and research that already exists on her connections to slavery and its mention in her novels. This information is widely accessible in the public domain. We would like to offer reassurance that we will not, and have never had any intention to, interrogate Jane Austen, her characters or her readers for drinking tea. We have been planning to refresh our displays and decoration at Jane Austen’s House for several years. The overarching aim of this long-term process is to bring Jane Austen’s brilliance and the extraordinary flourishing of creativity she experienced at the House to the heart of every visit. Since we are a museum of Jane Austen’s domestic and creative life, this interpretation will by its very nature include the Regency, Empire and Colonial contexts in which she grew up and lived and from which she drew inspiration for her works. This will be part of a layered and nuanced presentation which will be based on long established, peer reviewed academic research, alongside Jane Austen’s own words and our collection. We firmly believe that placing Austen in the context of her time at her home will only make her genius shine more brightly.”

Source:
A Statement from Jane Austen’s House
 

 

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Schools will no longer include their motto (serve and obey) in their crest. A review found that the words “require explanation and are interpreted very differently in the context of slavery, multi-faith diversity, marriage vows, emancipation and equality”. In a letter, the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers said:

Dear Haberdasher,
Introduction

 
The Place of Robert Aske in the Company

 
The Motto

 
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Elstree Schools

 
The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Federation Trust

H A WATSON
The Clerk

Source:
Policy Exchange History Matters Project
 

 

Place names in Swansea with links to the slave trade are to be accompanied by panels or digital bar codes to provide historical context. The Swansea Council Black Lives Matter Response of Place Review said:
 
“3.1 While decisions on decommissioning and naming will be subject to further consultation, scrutiny and public engagement, we can present in the first instance, evidence of our progress in addressing this agenda, along with suggestions as to how the broad report recommendations could be implemented, to facilitate a constructive programme plan going forward. 

3.2 West Glamorgan Archive Service is already working with its neighbouring archive service in Cardiff to produce a set of online resources which will support the changes to the Wales national curriculum presaged by the appointment of Professor Charlotte Williams and her working group to oversee the introduction of teaching of this strand of our history to the new curriculum in 2022. 

3.3 The naming of streets and creation of new civic space can be at times contentious or, perhaps more commonly, evoke widespread indifference. When naming is successful, the result can be a significant factor in placemaking, as evidenced by the development of the Marina by the City Council in the 1980s and early 1990s. This area draws on aspects of Swansea’s maritime history and weaves a gentle narrative linking street names, public space and public art. Any new space or street naming could be interpreted, either with a panel (e.g. in a public square) or with a QR code, explaining the historic link. 

3.4 Likewise statues and monuments may either be a factor in creating shared memory and community identity or else simply a photographic opportunity on a day out in the centre (e.g. Dylan Thomas’ statue). More often, statues are so ignored that most people are probably not even aware of their existence. The three Victorian ‘city father’ statues unfortunately fall into this category and many Swansea residents would probably be hard-pressed to identify them and their location, let alone be aware of the individuals’ part in our shared history. 

3.5 Current statues and monuments, including the large-scale historic works such as the Brangwyn Panels, can include nearby interpretation or the inclusion of QR codes or other points of reference so as to contextualise them in our current understanding of Swansea and its history.”

Source: 
City and County of Swansea - Cabinet - Thursday, 18 March 2021  
 

 

The sculpture of a small black boy standing above a clock on a Grade II-listed building in Stroud is facing calls for its removal. The sculpture was made in 1774 and was moved in 1844 to its current site which was once the National School for Girls. A council report has concluded:
 
“The clock and statue have been in Stroud for approximately 240 years. The clock and associated statue therefore can be considered to have an historic interest as lasting features within the life and fabric of the town.

However, there is, without any doubt, an association, either directly, or indirectly, with the slave trade and colonialism, and this cannot be ignored.”

Read the full report here.
 
Stroud’s MP Siobhan Baillie said:

“Removing this statue or any other will not end the scourge of racism and its disappearance from our community into a museum could be counterproductive in the longer term.

"We might run the risk of future generations not understanding the journey this country has made when it comes to equal rights.

"We will always need a context – good and bad - to that journey in our public spaces if we are to understand our history, our progress and our mistakes, then reconcile to it.

“I am also concerned that a certain minority of people with loud voices have an unquenchable desire to be constantly finding things to be outraged at. This can never be a way forward in my view. It is divisive, and division never solved a single issue.

“I think the best way to really get people to understand our history is to leave all statues in place and commission others to reflect our country’s journey in the 20th and 21st centuries toward equality.

"It is a journey we are still making and there is some way to go. I understand and share the anger about racism, but effectively banning past prejudice by making it physically disappear from our parks, buildings and roads is not valid in a mature democracy.

“I accept that an improved context of certain historical statues might sometimes be helpful.

"Adding factual information about this statue and the origins of its imagery rather than removing it may, I believe, serve a much greater educational purpose, encourage debate and be a compromise.

“On a practical level, I would welcome people supporting my work to tackle the racism that is happening right now.

"I am working with organisations like Kick it Out and the Football Association to tackle anonymous abuse online with a verification campaign to stop the hate.”

Source:
Report on the Significance of Blackboy Clock and associated Statue, Blackboy House, Castle Street, Stroud – Stroud.gov.uk
 

 

Scottish teachers have been given new guidance designed to “embed race equality” in classrooms and “decolonise” the school curriculum. An anti-racism toolkit endorsed by the Scottish Government encourages teachers to take a “white privilege test” and states that white people receive “automatic advantages” because of their skin colour. It also asserts that race is “a system that serves to enable capitalism and the current world order”.
 
Read the full guidance here.
Read the press release here.
Read the Anti-Racism Toolkit for teachers here.
See the White Privilege Test here.
 
Sources: 
Promoting race equality and anti-racist education – education.gov.scot – 30 August 2021
Promoting and developing race equality and anti-racist education: an overview PDF
Anti-Racism Toolkit for teachers – Scotdec – 30^th August 2021
White Privilege Test (The Anti-Racist Educator Edition)
 

 

A Church of England report has said that people who contributed to or benefitted from the slave trade should not be unconditionally celebrated or commemorated.
 
“The protests following the killing of George Floyd, and in particular the tearing down of the Colston statue in Bristol, highlighted issues surrounding the Church of England’s consideration of its own contested heritage. The Church of England has taken little action in addressing the historic slave trade and its legacy since it made an apology at General Synod in 2006 for its involvement in the trade. Regarding monuments and the built environment, deciding what to do with contested heritage is not easy. While history should not be hidden, we also do not want to unconditionally celebrate or commemorate people who contributed to or benefitted from the tragedy that was the slave trade.”

Sources: 
From Lament to Action - The Report of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce – Church of England 2021
Press Release: From Lament to Action: Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce calls for urgent changes to culture of Church of England 2021  

See Also: 
'Benin Bronzes' to be repatriated by Church of England are from 1980s – The Telegraph  
  
 

 

An auction house has withdrawn a Benin bronze from sale and the vendor will consider its repatriation to Nigeria after a concerns about its “uncertain” provenance were raised. Professor Dan Hicks, curator of world archaeology at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum had tweeted about the sale, saying:

“If this is genuinely a C16 Benin bronze — as you claim in your auction listing — then it is 99.9 per cent sure to have been looted in the 1897 sacking of Benin City.”

Mark Ellin, managing partner at Burstow and Hewett, said:

“We collected this bronze plaque from a local private lady whose husband had purchased it at auction in America in 2013. The auction sale was a widely publicised sale of African artefacts consisting of several well-known private collections.

“The catalogue listing stated that the plaque dated to the 16th or 17th century. It also stated that it had a laboratory metallurgy report and a Nigerian export document.

“Eight years later, following the death of her husband, our vendor was downsizing and asked us to sell part of her house contents, including this bronze, which she didn’t like. She produced the auction catalogue and the laboratory report, but could not locate the export document, and still cannot” 

“We felt that as there was originally an export form with the bronze when it was offered for sale in America, it must have left the country legitimately, and was not part of the huge number that were looted in 1897.

“Our catalogue listing stated the American sale information including documentation. We were then in contact with Professor Hicks, and following a very helpful and informative discussion, we decided that if the export document could not be found there is too much uncertainty regarding the provenance for us to be able to offer it for sale.

“He told us that it was highly unusual for Nigeria to grant export licences for antiquities, although not impossible, but that if it could not be found it would be almost impossible to confirm its provenance. The decision was taken straight away to withdraw the bronze from auction pending further discussions with the vendor.”

Sources: 
Dan Hicks – Twitter

Burstow and Hewett - Twitter

Burstow and Hewett, Auctioneers and Valuers Lot 82 [Withdrawn]

Auction house cancels sale of Benin bronze over looting concerns, The Times, 2021

See also:
Who really owns the Benin Bronzes? Spectator
 

 

A Boer War memorial in Newcastle is to be given a new “interpretation” by Newcastle Council following claims that the conflict was a “colonialist enterprise”. The council will also add an information panel to the Lord Armstrong memorial.
 
A council spokesperson said: “In response to the anti-racism protests which began in Bristol last summer, the city council conducted an urgent review into statutes in Newcastle. 

"It concluded that no statues had any links to slavery or racism and therefore none needed to be removed. We also investigated a couple of street names but were unable to establish a definitive link with slavery, so no names were changed.

“To widen public interpretation of the South African War Memorial at Haymarket we intend to install two information panels, one to interpret the statue and the other to shed light on its local connections in the city. We also intend to place an information panel at the Lord Armstrong Memorial though our plans for both these projects predate the anti-racism protests.”

Source:
Policy Exchange History Matters Project
Newcastle’s Mucky Angel memorial to Boer War dead to get new ‘interpretation’ – The Times – August 2021
Statue of Victorian inventor will be re-labelled to highlight his profits from guns – The Telegraph
 

 

Cambridge University's archaeology museum is to add signs to explain the “whiteness” of sculpture plaster casts, as part of the Classics Faculty’s new anti-racist strategy.
 
The action plan states that: “The plaster cast collection of the Museum of Classical Archaeology, both in the Cast Gallery and distributed around the lecture rooms of the Faculty Building give a misleading impression about the whiteness and absence of diversity from the Greek and Roman world.”

It recommends providing “improved information so as to turn the problem into an opportunity to draw attention to the diversity figured in the casts, to the ways in which colour has been lost and can be restored, and to the role of classical sculpture in the history of racism.”

Read the full action plan here.
Read the statement here.

Sources: 
Faculty action plan, Faculty of Classics, University of Cambridge
Open Letter: a response from the Faculty Board of Classics, University of Cambridge
 

 

Less than a quarter of the public in England support ‘decolonising’ the curriculum polling for the UPP Foundation and Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), conducted by Public First, finds.
 
The UPP Foundation and Higher Education Policy Institute Public Attitudes to Higher Education Survey shows people are largely hostile or in two minds about ‘decolonising’ the curriculum: 31% disagree with it, 33% neither agree or disagree and only 23% of the public support it.

Read the full report here.
Read the Press release here.

Source: 
The UPP Foundation and Higher Education Policy Institute Public Attitudes to Higher Education Survey
Views on decolonising the curriculum depend on how changes are presented – HEPI – 20 July 2021
Only quarter of public support ‘decolonising curriculum’ at universities – poll | Express & Star (expressandstar.com)
 

 

Research is being carried out by Leeds City Council into Yorkshire Tea and parkin cakes' alleged links to the slave trade. A council spokesman said:
 
"Within the Leeds Museums and Galleries collection, for example, we have recipes for parkin along with many different tins, bottles and jars that contained foodstuffs and products made in Leeds or Yorkshire.

"Whilst this production created local employment and put some Yorkshire products on the map, some of the ingredients listed in them would have been sourced from around the empire and would have involved the labour of enslaved people as well as exploitation of resources and communities around the world. Our work will aim to reflect these issues, looking at them from a contemporary perspective in an effort to tell their whole stories.

"Once complete, this information is likely to sit within the Empire and Colonial Leeds section of the site, but will also be searchable throughout the website and beyond."

Source: 
Leeds Council investigates Yorkshire Tea and Parkin cakes' links to the slave trade – Leeds Live – 23/07/2021
 

 

Media reports have claimed that Sheffield University plans to “decolonise” the engineering curriculum. A leaked copy of a Sheffield University document entitled “draft inclusive curriculum development” labels Sir Isaac Newton as a potential beneficiary of “colonial-era activity”. In a statement. the University of Sheffield said:
 
“We are not removing Sir Isaac Newton from our curriculum. We are looking to add those who have also made significant contributions to the fields of maths, science and engineering but are not currently represented, alongside Newton. There is no possibility of removing the exceptional contribution of figures like Newton.”
 
Sources:
Policy Exchange History Matters Project 
Isaac Newton latest historical figure swept up in 'decolonisation' drive – The Telegraph – 24/04/2021
 

 

The University of Edinburgh has said staff should “avoid using predominantly Western names such as Alice/Bob, as is common in the computer security literature”. In digital culture, the names Alice and Bob are widely used as placeholders to illustrate how protocols and systems work.
 
A spokesman for the University of Edinburgh said:

“As an institution we are committed to addressing contemporary and historic inequalities with respect to race. and our schools are aware of this. In this case the school has developed guidance to ensure that materials produced reflect the diverse and international nature of our community.”
 
Sources:
Policy Exchange History Matters Project 
Woke wars: Edinburgh’s computer scientists banned from using ‘Alice and Bob’ as too ‘Western’ - The Telegraph – 4 September 2021
 

 

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation has published an update on the statues of Sir Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy. It said:

“Today, we are publishing findings from work to inform the future of statues of benefactors Sir Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy. We own the statues of these men, who were benefactors to our endowment in the 17th and 18th Centuries, and whose contributions helped develop St Thomas’ and Guy’s hospitals.

As part of an emerging programme to understand our heritage and the impact of the legacy of slavery on health and healthcare today, two exploratory pieces of work were commissioned. Firstly, historical research confirmed that each man had connections to the trade of enslaved people. Informed by this research, and in line with advice from Historic England, we commissioned an independent public consultation to explore views on the statues from a wide range of audiences.

The consultation surfaced important themes around the symbolism of statues and their presence in the public realm, the prominence they are given, and the importance of telling the full histories of how these two men made their wealth. Based on considered analysis of the findings, the consultation concluded with the following recommendations to our board of Trustees:

Both statues should be retained in the public realm, and changes should be made to how they are positioned and interpreted, namely:

The statue of Sir Robert Clayton should be retained in its current location at St Thomas’ Hospital, which is considered not to be in a prominent position. The statue of Thomas Guy should be relocated to a less prominent location in the local area around Guy’s Hospital.

Information explaining how both men made their wealth, and their connections with the trade of enslaved people, should be made more broadly available through interpretation alongside the statues and online.

We have taken the decision to implement these recommendations.

As both statues are listed, most changes will need planning permission. In preparation for this, we have commissioned specialist consultants to lead the development of interpretative materials, intended to accompany each statue and provide accessible histories of the two men, their contributions and their individual connections with the trade of enslaved people. Visitors to the sites will have the chance to explore further materials online.

We have also begun working with stakeholders and advisors to explore the practicalities of relocating the Thomas Guy statue. Legal advice indicates that achieving permission to move the statue is very unlikely in the short to medium term due to current planning legislation and political sentiment. Timelines for any changes to this statue will also be impacted by a COVID-19 vaccination centre occupying its current location, which will prevent access to the statue until at least 2022.

As we pursue these actions, we will continue to work with all relevant authorities including Lambeth and Southwark councils, Historic England and the Mayor of London, as well as with partners Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.

Kieron Boyle, our Chief Executive, says:

“Like many organisations in Britain, slavery is part of our history, and we believe we have a duty to address its legacies. Being a charitable foundation focused on improving health involves tackling the health inequalities we see every day affecting Black communities, and making sure the public realm surrounding hospitals is welcoming to everyone.

“Last year we committed to making decisions on the statues of Sir Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy based on a strong understanding of the facts, and the views held about them. Through the independent consultation, we heard from a broad range of voices, including those communities most local to the statues. We sought to balance these in making our decision.

“The consultation has recommended that we retain both statues in the public realm, provide information explaining how both men made their wealth, and move one of the statues to a less prominent position. It has also suggested that we commission new artistic works to tell the rich story of those involved in the hospitals’ history.

“We recognise that these can be polarising debates and are grateful for the wide range of views that shaped these independent recommendations. We are committed to seeing all the changes through. The pace at which we can proceed will depend on planning legislation and political sentiment, as well as the immediate need to prioritise the delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations on the site of the Thomas Guy statue. We have begun by commissioning comprehensive interpretation to accompany each statue.”

We are committed to tackling the impact of racism on health inequalities and supporting greater diversity within the Foundation and our work. Part of this is building a better understanding of our heritage and the impact of that legacy on health and healthcare today. To support this, we are working to increase the diversity of voices celebrated in the public realm through our arts collection and commissions within healthcare settings; and to understand further any historical links of our endowment with discriminatory practices.

Find out more about our decision and what we’re learning as we explore our heritage in this reflection from our Chief Executive.

The historical review was carried out by academics who specialise in Caribbean slavery and the colonial past of British institutions, and who were based at King’s College London. The piece has been peer-reviewed by professionals from Black Cultural Archives and the Legacies of British Slave-ownership project at University College London.

The independent consultation was led by David Bryan CBE of Xtend and Dr Samina Zahir, who have a combined record of over 45 years of experience across consultancy, research and organisational development.”
 
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of Oxfam GB, was appointed as a trustee of Guys and St Thomas’ Foundation shortly before its decision to move the statue of Thomas Guy. The same month, he wrote an article criticising the government’s decision to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign Office in which he said:

“As statues of Cecil Rhodes are taken down across the world, the British prime minister chooses to deprioritise the country, once called Northern Rhodesia, that sent vast amounts of copper to the UK during colonial times . . . Boris Johnson’s decision this week takes UK aid in the opposite direction and is likely to lead to many more people dying unnecessarily from hunger and disease. The language he chose to describe his decision adds insult to injury and, at a time of widespread support for Black Lives Matter, makes it harder for us to confront the lingering injustices of our colonial past.”

In a statement, the Guys and St Thomas’ Foundation said:

“The foundation then carried out historical research and an independent public consultation in line with advice from Historic England,” 

“There is no connection to the appointment of Danny Sriskandarajah.”
 
Sources:
Policy Exchange History Matters Project
Update on the statues of Sir Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy – Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation – 1 September 2021
Oxfam chief behind plan to sideline Thomas Guy’s hospital statue – The Times – 11/09/2021
 

 

A bust of King George III has been removed from the National Maritime Museum’s permanent exhibition. The figurehead of the Royal Yacht ‘Royal George’ shows King George III in the guise of a Roman emperor, wearing a laurel wreath, a signifier of victory. On either side are two kneeling African men with hands clasped. A statement put in its place reads:
 
“For many visitors and staff, its imagery of a powerful white king with two subservient black men is a hurtful reinforcement of enduring racial stereotypes.

“Monarchs are typically portrayed as the dominant figure, with others shown in a secondary and more deferential stance.

“However, this figurehead is often seen as celebrating the role of white people in ending slavery. Such images overshadow the determined actions and huge sacrifices of black people to achieve this goal.”
 
A spokeswoman for the museum said:
“The Atlantic Worlds gallery opened in 2007 and has been under review since 2019. The figurehead of HMY Royal George (1817) was removed in August 2020. Research into the iconography of George III suggests more strongly and persuasively that it commemorates victory over Napoleon in 1815 rather than celebrating Britain’s abolition of its slave trade in 1807. This new understanding of the object meant it no longer made a meaningful contribution to the gallery narrative within the slavery and abolition section. This was specifically highlighted, and correctly brought to our attention, during the summer of 2020. The figurehead can now be seen at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre.”
 
Sources:
Policy Exchange History Matters project
The bust figurehead of George III from the Royal Yacht 'Royal George' (1817) – National Maritime Museum
 

 

V&A – Donations
Tristram Hunt, the Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, has said that wealthy philanthropists have become wary of giving money to the arts in case they receive unwelcome attention from activists. In an interview with Tatler, he said:
 
'People are sometimes nervous about giving money nowadays because they come under a lot of scrutiny'

'First instincts now are not, as it were, “How generous of people it is to support a cultural institution,” but “What are people whitewashing or greenwashing or bluewashing. What’s the motive?”'

Read the interview here.

Source: 
Tatler - Tristram Hunt, a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, opens up about pandemic life at the V&A in the new issue – July 2021
V&A boss says the wealthy have stopped donating to museums because of scrutiny
 

Arts Council
The chair of the Arts Council, Sir Nicholas Serota, has told MPs that historic statues should not be pulled down but reinterpreted instead. Giving evidence at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Sir Nicholas said:

 
“As far as the current Government policy on such things is concerned, we support the notion of retaining works in place. Within museums, of course, works move all the time and are constantly reinterpreted. We support that reinterpretation where it feels appropriate or when new scholarship emerges.”

Source: 
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee – Oral evidence: Arts Council England and the Culture – Recovery Fund, HC 1352 – Tuesday 20 April 2020 – Parliament.uk