Dr Richard Benjamin - The Making of Us: Museums, Social Justice & Society

What role do museums play in realigning and reflecting society in a time of unrest and questioning? Can they enable social justice and enhance social cohesion? Can they make society (and themselves) more conducive to positive change? Museums can be platforms for dialogue (and portals for action) on issues from the legacies of slavery to decolonial practices. And they must strive to revolutionize their thinking and doing. Collection practices, displays, and stories should reflect the here and now; and hasten ownership and power-sharing with the public and communities.

Richard will reflect upon, reappraise and refocus contested histories and narratives through the lens of museums. He will offer a personal perspective and utilize his time as Head of the International Slavery Museum since 2007. A museum that positions itself as an activist museum engaged in activities designed to not only challenge but reframe an understanding of racism, discrimination, and accepted convenient and dominant narratives.

Richard is Visiting Professor in Slavery and Public Engagement in the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures at the University of Liverpool. He is on secondment from his role as Head of the International Slavery Museum at National Museums Liverpool, and Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of International Slavery.

Richard gained a degree in Community and Race Relations at Edge Hill College and completed an MA and PhD in Archaeology at the University of Liverpool. In 2002 he was a Visiting Research Scholar at the W.E.B. DuBois Institute of African and African American Research, Harvard University.

He is a Trustee of the Anthony Walker Foundation and a member of Everton Football Club External Equality Advisory Group. Richard is a Board member of the European Museum Forum and on the Editorial Board for MONITOR: Global Intelligence on Racism magazine.