The document discusses the need for museums to commit to discomfort by challenging colonial structures and presenting non-white perspectives. It notes that many museums see only white Europeans as citizens and fail to have representative panels. Quotes express concerns that white fragility prevents meaningful engagement and emphasizes differences over similarities. Museums are urged to address discrimination, celebrate diversity, and enable inclusion.

1. “If you want to
commit to
decolonisation, you
need to commit to
discomfort.”
Wayne Modest
The urgency of difficult conversations
ADESTE+ Summer School, 26.9.2019

2. “Many European museums see themselves as civic spaces,
but, for them, citizens are the white Europeans.”

3. The Stolen Generations, Australia

4. “This made me worried that
White fragility will always get in
the way of settlers engaging
with programs that challenge
the colonial structures that
benefit them. This made me
worried that White fragility is
more of concern to some
people than the truth.”
Nathan “Mudyi” Sentence

5. Alice Procter, Uncomfortable Art Tours

7. “The consequences of
the single story are
these: it robes people
of their dignity; it makes
our recognition of equal
humanity difficult; it
emphasises how we
are different rather than
how we are similar.”

10. Debate ICOM Portugal, 20.6.2018

11. “In a room full of women and young people, the
panel had six men and only one woman. The
average age of the speakers was 66,7. All white.
These circumstances were no small detail and
there were several comments in the audience that
pointed to this situation. (…) Of all the people who
have been publicly commenting on the museum,
couldn’t a more representative panel have been
found? This is not my country, let alone my
museum.”

12. Debate Acesso Cultura, 22.3.2019

13. “The public debate about the
creation of new museums
reveals the state of mind of
peoples and societies. But we
are obliged to be a little bit
more aware of the totalitarian
temptation lurking around
every corner. We know that
museums may not be neutral.
That there may be political and
ideological smuggling in
interpretation centres. That
patriotism can hide vices and
ominous myths. And that in the
name of freedom one also
kills, oppresses and prohibits.”
António Barreto

16. “Indonesia: a history of occupation”,
Tropenmuseum

17. Tropenmuseum

18. Tropenmuseum

19. “I don't believe 17.5 million
people are racists or idiots. I
categorically don't. I think
we've got to listen. We've got
to try to do what little we can
to address the complete vote
of no confidence in our
system.”
Rufus Norris
The National Theatre

20. The Windrush Generation

25. Esme Ward,
Manchester
Museum

28. • Address discrimination and celebrate diversity
• Bring people together and build strong relationships
• Enable people to participate and feel included in their communities
• Develop practical actions to help people feel positive about all our
futures

29. Gulbenkian Museum

30. Thank you
Maria Vlachou
Blog: Musing on Culture
acessocultura.org