by Helen McConnell Simpson, Senior Curator of History Today we have launched an extended display at M Shed about the history of protest in Bristol, with the permanent inclusion of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston, which was pulled down during a Black Lives Matter march in 2020. The new display focuses on the protest in which the statue was toppled. It features first-hand accounts from protestors and shares the perspectives of those opposed to the toppling. The display contextualises the statue into the wider picture of protest against racial injustice over the last 400 years, both in ..read more

by Lisa Graves, Curator – World Cultures and Archaeology In 2020 we set-up a museum Decolonisation Working Group to direct our ambitions to address racial inequalities in our work. Due to huge internal upheaval over the last two years this work has stalled.  Though resources may be harder to come by in the current environment we must not forget the need for this work. We’re beginning to look again at priorities for the Working Group and the whole museum service. We wish to challenge our ways of working, support more successful collaborations and promote an anti-racist agenda. Behind the scenes ..read more

by Maarten Praet, Ph.D. Student – Egyptian Art and Archaeology at the Johns Hopkins University I am studying the reign of the ancient Egyptian king Mentuhotep II (2055-2000 BCE) for my PhD dissertation at the Johns Hopkins University. Specifically, I study the fragmentary decoration from Mentuhotep’s funerary temple. This temple is located in the Deir el-Bahari valley on the west bank of the river Nile. Mentuhotep is important in ancient Egyptian history. He reunited Egypt under his sole rule after a period of political fragmentation. He also made important artistic, political, societal, and r ..read more

Need an uplift this January? We see you. Whether you’ve resolved to start the new year refreshed and energised, if you need to save some money after the Christmas splurge or even just need to escape from the weather (and world), here are some ideas for enriching things to enjoy this month (and beyond). Be inspired and uplifted with a self-led art trail at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Free essence 32 by Niyoko Ikuta. Courtesy of Yufuku Art Gallery. Whether or not you’re an art buff, losing yourself in a work of art can be wonderfully therapeutic. We invite you to complete a lap of our top ..read more

UK Disability History Month takes place from 16 November to 16 December. One of the aims of the month is to raise awareness of Disabled people in society and to advocate for disability equality. Some Disabled people are creatives whose work has been under-represented in museums throughout history and still is today. Representation matters; it changes people’s lives and can only benefit everyone – now and in the future. Cultural and creative spaces are a great place to celebrate diversity. Historically, museums and galleries will, of course, have displayed creations by Disabled people. However ..read more

It’s wonderful when we uncover new bits of information about our collections as has happened with an artwork within the British Empire & Commonwealth Collection (BECC). Recent visitors to the museum store spotted the work and suggested it was by their friend, the artist Risham Syed. A quick call established that the work was indeed an early piece created in 1996 during the Lahore-based artist’s time at the Royal College of Art (RCA), London. The artist is known for including her native city in her work and for weaving in references and connections to colonial histories. We were thrilled th ..read more

The Winter Lectures are back for a new season and the programme is as fascinating as ever.   Up first, on 12 October, is Professor Michael Benton who will be sweeping our earth’s history to explore extinctions and discuss how life survives, adapts and evolves – Winter Lecture: Extinctions – How Life Survives, Adapts, Evolves | Bristol Museums     Then, on 9 November, Professor Marc Holderied will share how moths use acoustic defences and why this can help us in our ever-noisier world – Winter Lecture: wingtip decoys and stealth cloaks – the acoustic defences of moths | Br ..read more

Our Autumn Programme Celebration is one of Bristol Museums’ Private Views, which are held after our sites close to the public. These special events are by invite only, and spaces are limited. Our Autumn Programme Celebration takes place on Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 18:30 at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. Enter your information below for a chance to win tickets for you and a friend. This event is 18+. By entering your information below, you are confirming that you are 18 or older. Terms & Conditions This event is 18+. Entrants must be 18 or older. By entering your information i ..read more

By walk guide Mark Steeds, author, and historian from Bristol Radical History Group Along the walk, you will be regaled with many weird and wonderful facts about Bristol’s literary, maritime, and piratical past. Reportedly the world’s first, published, literary treasure map Did you know?  Bristol is home to the world’s first literary treasure map. Painter, author and marooned privateer William Williams (1721-1791) was a one-time resident of the Merchant Venturers Almshouses in King Street. He wrote the Journal of Llewellin Penrose, Seaman, in which he included a ‘pirate treasure map’. I ..read more

Blaise Museum and Kings Weston Villa is excited to launch this year’s programme of free, family-friendly summer fun!   Events with craft, storytelling, trails and a whole host of other activities will take place at Blaise Estate on Thursdays in August. Each day has a different theme connected to Blaise so look forward to butterflies, mini-beasts, toys, games and giants!     There’s some amazing archaeology over the summer too as part of the national Festival of Archaeology. Visit nearby Kings Weston Roman Villa for an open day filled with stories, dressing up and cra ..read more