Over the past year Black South West Network (BSWN) has undertaken a research project, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, focused on how concepts like decolonisation, diversity, and inclusion in relation to racial inclusion are understood and enacted within the heritage and cultural sector in the South West of England. We conducted frank and honest conversations with CEO’s, Directors, and Cultural Heritage Managers from over 15 cultural heritage institutions as a way to start the conversation that will allow us and the region to begin to tackle these issues head on.

You are warmly invited to join us as we bring together the cultural heritage sector, academics, and community organisations, artist and actors in a conversation around what it means to do racial inclusion work within cultural heritage organisations and sites through a decolonial lens.

• What does decolonisation mean in this context?
• How can this perspective aid in racial inclusion?
• And what does it look like for these different sectors to work in collaboration with a shared end goal of racial inclusion in all of our work?

Our panellists will start by sharing the key findings from BSWN’s research, identify the trends we saw, address obstacles and concerns, discuss similar trends seen in the US, and invite the audience to discuss what focused and sustain action can look like going forward.

Our goal is to have an engaged conversation with the audience as a way to map out the next stages of the future of decolonial practice in the South West.

Guest speakers and panellists include:

• Jon Finch, Head of Culture – Bristol City Council
• Dr Angelina Osborne, Lecturer in Humanities and Social Sciences – Kensington and Chelsea College London
• Dr Errol Francis – CEO of Culture&
• Jennifer Sharratt – BSWN Cultural Heritage Manager
• Matthew Branch – Brown University  and Summer Intern for BSWN

The event will be chaired by Jendayi Serwah.

Places are limited so offered on a first come, first served basis. Book here

Image Credit: Ângela Ferreira, ‘Pan African Unity Mural’, 2018, MAAT, Lisbon.