Panel discussion: what are the ingredients of an inclusive museum?

Join the panel discussion as we discuss becoming an anti-racist museum through community collaboration and change.

Fulham Palace is proud to be one of six UK museums participating in the Museums Association’s Anti-Racist Museums Programme, which runs until November 2024. This initiative is a key part of our commitment to promoting inclusive histories and access, reflecting our belief that museums must become truly anti-racist at an organisational level.

In 2023, Fulham Palace launched a ground-breaking exhibition, The Bishops of London, colonialism and transatlantic slavery: resistance, curated by poet Adisa in collaboration with community groups and local schools. This exhibition represents a new direction in how we engage with the legacies of colonialism, and this panel discussion continues that vital work.

Join us as we explore how museums can work with communities to embed anti-racist practices, decolonise exhibitions and collections and create lasting change. Our panel of experts and community leaders will offer their insights into the changes needed to make museums more inclusive, followed by an open discussion and audience Q&A where you can be part of the conversation.

Each of the four main panel speakers will give a 10-minute presentation, followed by a broader panel discussion and questions from the audience.

This evening’s panel will be chaired by Dr Michelle Asantewa.

This talk is part of a series held at Fulham Palace around Black History Month, where we will re-examine historical narratives and bring to the forefront the voices of those who have been marginalized.

Panelists include:

Dr Michelle Asantewa chair
Dr Asantewa is an award-winning author, independent educator, cultural consultant, and publisher. Her work spans fiction, poetry, and cultural studies, with a focus on African and Caribbean spirituality, resistance, and cultural heritage. She is also the co-founder of Way Wive Wordz Publishing and teaches a range of courses exploring African and diasporic narratives.

Ade Banjoko
A legal professional and community advocate, Ade is one of the directors of the Parents Action and Resource Centre (PARC) in Ealing, where he focuses on systemic inequalities in education. Ade will discuss how museums can forge meaningful partnerships with grassroots organisations and include community perspectives in their anti-racist work.

Miranda Lowe
Miranda is a Principal Curator at the Natural History Museum, co-founder of Museum Detox and chair of Culture&, organisations supporting people of colour in the cultural sector and opening up the sector to to diverse audiences and workers. She will address the question of how museums can tell a more accurate and inclusive version of British history, ensuring that previously excluded voices are heard.

Adisa the Verbalizer
Adisa is an acclaimed poet whose work focuses on his African-Caribbean heritage and diasporic identity. As co-curator of Fulham Palace’s exhibition on the Bishops of London and slavery, he will discuss how artists can play a vital role in decolonising museums and making these conversations accessible beyond academia.

Tony Warner
Founder of Black History Walks and co-founder of the BFI’s African Odysseys programme, Tony is a historian and activist committed to making history accessible to all. He will speak on breaking down the barriers that prevent a wider range of people from engaging with museums, libraries, and archives.

Additional panel members include:

• Bimpe Adeyemi, creative producer and practitioner
• Ateinda Ausarntu, co-founder of Way Wive Wordz
• Gaverne Bennett, Local History Officer, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and Creator of The Guardian’s Black History Timeline Wallchart
• Deborah Farley-Persaud, deputy chair, Fulham Palace Trust
• Nadege Forde-Vidal, curator of Black Chiswick Through History and founder of the Sankofa London Schools Project
• Fenella Goodhart, trustee, Fulham Palace Trust, and Director of Learning & Participation, London Transport Museum
• Dr Cassie Gooptar, Lecturer in Legacies of Slavery, Lead Researcher on the Guardian Legacies of Enslavement Project, Wilberforce Institute, Hull University
• Paul Gray, chair of trustees, Fulham Palace Trust, and Chief Operating Officer at the National Gallery
• Akosua Paries-Osei, Techné Funded PhD Candidate, Royal Holloway, University of London
• Joshua Robertson, Policy and Campaigns Lead for Decolonisation and Anti-Racism, Museums Association
• Jo Sadgrove, Research and Learning Advisor, United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG)
• Dr. Alison Searle, Associate Professor of Textual Studies, University of Leeds
• Tony Thompson, co-founder and artistic director, Sweet Patootee Arts

Event details

• This talk is part of the Black History series.
• This talk is suitable for ages 16+.
• Each main panel speaker will give a 10-minute presentation, followed by a broader panel discussion and questions from the audience.
• This evening’s panel will be chaired by Dr Michelle Asantewa.