Inclusive Global Histories
Our journey towards decolonisation, diversity and inclusion.
Please note, the Inclusive Global Histories exhibition will be closed to visitors on 3rd May. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Our 'Inclusive Global Histories' exhibition is the start of a journey that Ulster Museum is taking towards decolonisation, diversity and inclusion. Through this exhibition, Ulster Museum is re-evaluating its World Cultures collection, to better understand the complex global stories of these collections - how and why they came to be in Northern Ireland, the ways in which they connect to our audiences and what the options might be for these items in the future.
Working in partnership with others, we are re-examining our collections and sites, and seeking to address racism and exclusionary practices. We will highlight and redress the injustices of the past and face up to uncomfortable truths. We acknowledge we have much further to go, but we must start somewhere.
Through Inclusive Global Histories, we will bring marginalised voices and stories to the fore, exchange ideas and learn from others to encourage mutual respect and understanding. Our Inclusive Global Histories exhibition is divided into three sections;
- Exploring who we are
- Challenging our present
- Shaping our future
- Global Voices, Local Choices (This is a temporary display highlighting a creative engagement programme the museum is currently involved in. It will be on display until 28th April 2024, for further information on this programme see Global Voices Local Choices Project | National Museums NI
The Inclusive Global Histories exhibition was launched in 2022, and is periodically reviewed and updated as research progresses and relationships develop. We want to hear the views of our audience on this work, and we welcome dialogue, particularly with those for whom the collections have special relevance and significance.
This is a free exhibition with no booking necessary.
Pictured is a pair of Cherokee pucker toe moccasins. From the Eastern band of Cherokee Indians of the Qualla Boundary, North Carolina, USA.
Dawn Arneach, member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians said: "After a visit to the museum archives and seeing how old a few items were that had no provenance to a specific tribe I wanted to donate my pair of moccasins that were made by tribal member Richard Saunooke and decorated by Ho-Chunk artist Sheena Brings Plenty. I wore my moccasins with my 18th century style Cherokee clothing. These moccasins walked in the footsteps of our ancestors who were in London, England in 1762 visiting the then King George II, but I was walking with the Warriors of Anikituhwa and our Principal Chief Richard G.Sneed"
Previous Events
Musical Global Histories | 26 July 2022
Curators, Dr Karen Logan and Tríona White Hamilton discuss the Inclusive Global Histories exhibition and how the concept has been shaped by the museum's decolonisation movement.
Their tour focuses on musical instruments on display - including a raft zither from Nigeria; an Australian baobab nut used as a ceremonial rattle; performance masks from West Africa; and a vinyl recording of the American jazz composer, Sun Ra's soundtrack to the 1972 Afrofuturist film, 'Space is the Place'.
In the Learning Zone on the Museum's ground floor, Belfast Zimbabwean musician, Agrippa Njanina, plays an mbira that he donated to the museum's collection. Roberta Bacic introduces the 'Dancing Cueca Alone' arpillera, followed by a musical response by Victor Henriquez on charango. And, Musician Yujing Peng plays and discusses the history of guzheng, how it is played and the different sounds it can produce.
Performance | Raquel McKee - Swell the Sounds of my Soul
Poem written and performed by Jamaican born dub poet, Raquel McKee, inspired by the ‘Inclusive Global History’ exhibition. Commissioned by National Museums NI in 2022.