Paper Short Abstract:

The paper uses the case study of Belgium’s largest museum, the Royal Museums of Art and History, to reflect on decolonisation in museums. We argue that confronting and unwriting uncomfortable colonial and imperial legacies is crucial to harness the transformative power of the museum for the future.

Paper Abstract:

At the Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH) in Brussels, Belgium, an equestrian statue of king Leopold II (r.1865-1909) towers high above the visitors. It was installed in the 1930s as a tribute to the Belgian monarch who had supported the museum both financially and through lobbying. However, Leopold’s legacy has increasingly become contentious due to his dubious role in the brutal colonial exploitation of Congo. Recently, therefore, the RMAH has taken steps to address Leopold’s controversial legacy through the contextualisation of the statue, using both signage and artistic intervention.

In this paper, we argue that although this intervention is an important step forward, it may not suffice as sole decolonising effort in the RMAH. We interrogate the RMAH’s current practices of addressing its past colonial and imperial ties and observe that the museum generally remains steeped in silence.

Importantly, we reflect on future steps towards a more in-depth decolonisation of the museum and the unwriting of its colonial legacies. Drawing on insights from critical heritage, museum and tourism studies, we identify ways of breaking through the silence in the RMAH. We especially emphasize the importance of further research into the museum’s history based on its rich archive and the necessity of participation of and co-creation with diverse communities at multiple levels. Finally, we argue that by addressing uncomfortable legacies, the RMAH can serve as a leading example of how institutions worldwide can confront and reconcile with their dissonant past, paving the way to a more equitable future.