Decolonising the curriculum

Abstract

Since the upheaval of social movements for the liberation of formal colonies in the 1960s, and several forms of activism from subaltern groups whose claims have reached cultural institutions as well as universities around the world, much has been said and written about the practical decolonisation of museums—a process that in some contexts is still strictly related to the restitution of colonial collections. However, what about the decolonisation of museology? This critical moment for museums and museology in the world have led ICOM and its several national and international committees to generate multiple and potent critical reflections on museums’ colonial past and its effects on museological thinking—effects that have been analysed and debated within ICOFOM for the past few years. The present publication brings together a collection of reflections presented during the webinar conference “Museums and Community Action: Decolonising the Curriculum,” hosted by the University of St Andrews and the International Committee for Museology (ICOFOM) in April 2021. This book is the third volume of a multi-vocal series entitled “Decolonising Museology,” including approaches from different parts of the world and diverse museological backgrounds.