Decolonising the collection: The origins and early history of Nottingham Castle museum (1878-1929)

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At a time of keen interest in the origins of Britain's cultural heritage, this project will investigate the diverse early history of Nottingham Castle's founding collections, situating them within their regional, national, and global contexts. The project speaks to contested and 'difficult histories' within museum collections which are of increasing relevance to cultural and heritage practitioners as well as to contemporary society.Nottingham Castle will re-open in February 2021 after a three-year transformation programme, with new galleries devoted to 'The Power of Art and Making', 'Rebellious Nottingham', and 'Robin Hood'. NCMG and the site operators, Nottingham Castle Trust (hereafter NCT), are keen to build upon the transformation programme through developing the temporary exhibition programme, annual gallery refresh, and education offer. This CDA, due to start in September 2021, will be central to this onward development. It will research the origins of the founding collections in order to reveal the history of neglected and contentious objects, some of which have never been displayed. Nottingham's collections are particularly suitable for interrogation, as they combine objects from Egypt, India, and Africa, with work by local artists and craftsmen. Researching the diversity and range of Nottingham's collections, their sources and inspiration, and the original physical arrangement of the objects within the post-1878 galleries, will influence interpretive strategies for the site over the next five years. The role of the original museum and the founding collections is directly relevant to the reshaping of Nottingham Castle's identity in the 21st century; understanding more about the nature of the collections and their origins is crucial to this process.