'Museums and Empire'

The event coincides with the publication of a collection of essays – entitled Curating Empire – which explores the diverse roles played by museums and their curators in representing and shaping British imperial, colonial, and post-colonial experiences. In recent years, scholars have increasingly recognized the establishment of museums as part of the context of imperialism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, both practically and symbolically. This collection builds on that work, suggesting that museums are no longer just places for accessing history but need to be considered as historical sites of significance in themselves.

The editors of the collection, Sarah Longair (British Museum) and John McAleer (History, University of Southampton), will consider its focus, and reflect on the ways in which individuals and their curatorial practices influenced the direction of institutions, the interpretation of material, and the experiences of audiences in a variety of museums across the globe. They will explore the implications of important themes that permeate the collection: museums and their meanings in imperial, colonial, and post-colonial contexts; the role of objects and display in the formation of British and colonial identities; museum networks and the movement of objects and ideas in the British Empire.

To discuss and debate these and other related topics, the editors will be joined by a range of commentators, including Edward Chaney (Professor of Fine and Decorative Arts, Southampton Solent University), Stephanie Jones (English, University of Southampton), Stephanie Moser (Archaeology, University of Southampton), and Chris Prior (History, University of Southampton).

This event will take place on Tuesday 19th February 2013 at 6pm,
Room 1177, James Parkes Building,
Avenue Campus
University of Southampton

For further information, please contact Dr Kendrick Oliver or visit the research pages of our website.

For further details about Curating Empire click here .