An exhibition celebrating the culture of Caribbean Scottish people has opened its doors today to the public (Sunday October 16).
Respect! Caribbean life in Edinburgh, is an event that will explore what it means to be Caribbean in the capital through museum objects, poetry and film. The event was put together by the Museum of Edinburgh in collaboration with members of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association (ECA).
As well as showcasing the experience of Caribbean Scots, the exhibition will also look into what life was like growing up in the region of the Americas. It will also examine how music and food in the UK have been influenced by the islands.
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Lyn Stevens, the curator of the exhibition said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to work with the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. The group have shared their knowledge and expertise generously with museum staff and the result is a fascinating insight into the many different Caribbean cultures and what it is like to live in Britain and maintain traditions and a sense of identity.
“I have learnt so much working with them and I am looking forward to our visitors enjoying this wonderful exhibition.”
Whereas Lisa Williams, of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association added: “It's been a wonderful experience collaborating with Museums and Galleries Edinburgh. We learned a lot from each other and forged friendship and understanding along the way.”
The items that are on display have been selected by members of the ECA in order to share their own stories with visitors. A special Spotify playlist had also been created so that those experiencing the display can enjoy a full range of Caribbean music.
The exhibition is part of a £250,000 community-led collections research project, Exchange, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in partnership with the National Museums Scotland and Royal Museums Greenwich. Exchange | National Museums Scotland.
Dr John Giblin, keeper of global arts, cultures and design at National Museums Scotland, said: “Thanks to a generous grant from the AHRC, the Exchange project has allowed organisations around the UK to work with communities who have historically been marginalised in museum and gallery displays to explore experiences of empire, migration, and life in Britain through their collections.
“Many hundreds of people have come together over the past year to reveal and share a wider range of stories and perspectives, and Respect! Caribbean life in Edinburgh is the culmination of a rich, thoughtful and productive collaboration between a museum and a community group.
“Our Museum of Edinburgh and Museum of Childhood champion local Edinburgh history and Edinburgh communities. The City of Edinburgh council is working to diversify museum collections as part of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review.
“New acquisitions of dolls, books and magazines have been made as part of this project to add to the Museum of Childhood collections.”
Councillor Val Walker, who is the culture and communities convener at Edinburgh City Council said: “Our Museum of Edinburgh celebrates the history of Edinburgh and all the communities who live in the city. This wonderful new exhibition has been a community led project, exploring the collections of our Museum of Childhood and the connections between Edinburgh and the Caribbean.
“Visitors to the Museum can enjoy a celebration of the culture of Caribbean Scottish people through museum objects, poetry and film and has been created in collaboration with the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. I would like to thank the association members for their time, creativity and generosity.”
A wide-ranging events programme has been arranged alongside the exhibition. For up-to-date information about events, and details of how to book, please visit the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh website.
Respect! Caribbean Life in Edinburgh opens Sunday 16 October 2022 – Sunday 19 February 2023. The Museum of Edinburgh can be found at 142-146 Canongate.
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