Edward Colston statue to be permanently displayed at the M-Shed
A recent survey by the We Are Bristol History Commission found 80% of people would want to see the statue moved to a museum
Last updated 5th Sep 2024
Bristol City Council have confirmed the toppled statue of Edward Colston will go on permanent display at the M-Shed.
It will be on show inside a glass case from next Friday (15 March) - after what's described as an 'extensive community consultation' by the We Are Bristol History Commission.
Mayor Marvin Rees has called the Grade-II listed plinth of the slave trader, which was brought down in 2020 during a Black Lives Matter march, as 'important for the city's communities to explore our history and what it means for us today'.
It's not the first time the statue has been on display in Bristol - with the temporary display in 2021 at the M-Shed being visited by 100,000 people.
Since the We Are Bristol History Commission found around 8 in 10 Bristolians agreed that the best place for it was in one of the city’s museums, Bristol City Council's planning committee has been working to approve listed building consent for the statue.
The City Council say the display will provide information and interpretation alongside the statue, emphasising its place in Bristol's complex history, within the museum’s Bristol People gallery.
It is also said to allow space for dialogue and reflection on the city's past, with a focus on racial justice and activism.
'Important for Bristol's communities to explore our city's history'
Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, said: "We have followed the findings of the We Are Bristol History Commission, carrying on from the city-wide conversation about what to do with the Colston statue. There were 14,000 responses to the survey, which returned a clear consensus for the statue to be preserved in its current state and exhibited in one of our Bristol museums, drawing on the principles of the temporary M Shed display in 2021. The resulting display at M Shed will present the history of Colston and the statue in a nuanced, contextualised, and engaging way, which is important for Bristol’s communities to explore our city’s history and what it means for us today.”
On the display, there will be a selection of the placards which were left at the empty plinth after the Black Lives Matter march on 7 June 2020.
There will also be a timeline, allowing visitors to contribute their own events on the themes of racism, the Colston statue, politics, and culture, will be featured along with an interactive screen.
Colston's statue is now set to join displays on the Bristol Bus Boycott, the abolition of slavery, the suffragettes, and scrapping section 28.
Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor of Bristol and Chair of the Bristol Legacy Foundation, said: “This display aligns with our vision of creating a safe space for dialogue and understanding around Bristol’s heritage. Working alongside Bristol's African Heritage community, we've strived to amplify less-heard voices, recognising that the fight against racism goes beyond symbolic gestures. Our goal is to encourage open dialogue, acknowledging the struggles with racism and embracing the complexities of our collective history. Bristol's legacy is a work in progress, and this extended display is a testament to a shared commitment to understand, learn, and evolve."
The Bristol Legacy Foundation will now follow on from the work of the We Are Bristol History Commission to support the understanding Bristol’s history, fostering dialogue, and creating a legacy for future generations.
Read more: Statue of slave trader might be moved to Bristol museum