MLA South East aims to support the integration of cultural diversity in all areas of museums, libraries and archives activities.
Cultural diversity advice, support, and guidance resources are listed below:
Bicentenary of the British Abolition of the Slave Trade Act
25 March 2007 was exactly 200 years since Parliament passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.
This outlawed the slave trade throughout the British Empire and made it illegal for British ships to be involved in the trade, marking the beginning of the end for the transatlantic traffic in human beings.
The bicentenary was an important opportunity to reflect on the struggles of the past, the progress we have made so far and the challenges that remain.
23 August 2007
International Day of the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was marked at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and at National Museums Liverpool with lively events that ensured Britain’s part in the dark trade of the past was not forgotten.
23 August marked the day in 1791 when enslaved Africans on the island of St Domingo revolted - signalling the start of slavery’s downfall. For centuries, African peoples were shipped to America and the Caribbean to work as slaves on plantations producing goods for European consumers.
Despite their dehumanising conditions, they managed to maintain their languages, religions and cultural traditions with dignity. The Day of Remembrance events examined the cultural legacy and global impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and served as a reflection on all those lives that it changed forever.
Understanding Slavery
Understanding Slavery encourages teachers, educators and young people to examine the history and legacies of the transatlantic slave trade through museum artefacts.
www.understandingslavery.com is a free online teaching resource produced by the Understanding Slavery project. The website is intended for teachers and educators planning lessons on the transatlantic slave trade for young people at key stage 3 and 4 in their education.
The website has selected artefacts from museum collections, historical information organised into eight chronological themes, lesson plans and activities for use in school or community contexts.
Diversity Toolkit
MLA South East recognises that across the South East there are many examples of best practice in working with diverse communities but for many organisations this is a new area of activity. How to work with your communities: A Diversity Toolkit aims through a series of guidance sheets and examples of good practice to provide a framework and is available to download from the right of the screen.
Diversity South East
As part of a wider national Diversity Festival, MLA South East organised and promoted Diversity South East, a programme of events across the region. 5 projects were funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of an umbrella project. Case studies of the individual projects illustrate the range of activities and are available to view from the right of the screen:
Alien Nation on Tour
Issues of asylum seekers explored in an exhibition featuring the work of refugees and disseminated through a series of community events in West Sussex.
Intta Africa
Pilot project to improve access to African music and instruments at the Powell-Cotton Museum by local schools.
Pavilion with a View
Raising awareness of British Asian histories through using as inspiration the stories and architecture of heritage sites in the South East with Islamic connections.
Sven Berlin - Paintings from Shave Green 1953-1970
An exhibition recording the end of the Gypsy community's traditional lifestyle in the New Forest.
Turn on the Lights
Promoting awareness and understanding of Diwali in the Brighton area.
Case Studies
MLA South East is collecting examples of the work museums, libraries and archives are undertaking in the South East with their diverse communities. If you would like to submit a case study of your work in this area contact us for a template or further details.
