Visitors will be surveyed on what they think should happen to the statue
The statue of slave trader Edward Colston that was torn down from its plinth in Bristol and dumped in the river last year will be displayed in one of the city’s museums, it has been announced.
It will be the main focus of a temporary exhibition at the M Shed museum, where visitors will also be invited to fill out a survey, offering their opinions on what should be done with the statue.
The exhibition will display placards from the Black Lives Matter protest that took place in Bristol following the death of George Floyd in the United States, as communities worldwide became mobilised in protesting against institutional and systemic racism.
The removal of the Colston statue prompted a mixed response among the nation, with some in favour of taking down a symbol of the country’s racist past, and others claiming that it would serve more of an educational purpose if it remained in place. At least that’s what they said was their reasoning for opposing the protestor’s actions.
Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, said: “7 June 2020 is undoubtedly a significant day in Bristol’s history and had a profound impact not just in our city but also across the country and around the world. The Colston statue: What next? display at M Shed is a temporary exhibition which aims to start a conversation about our history.
“The future of the statue must be decided by the people of Bristol and so I urge everyone to take the opportunity to share their views and help inform future decisions by taking part in the survey.”
