Latest news with #SharonAment
Telegraph
28-03-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Challenge problem of ‘whiteness', London Museum tells staff
The London Museum has urged staff to address the problem of 'whiteness' as part of a diversity drive. Employees have been requested to tackle concepts such as 'hierarchical working' under a long-term push for greater inclusion. The publicly-funded museum dedicated to the history of London has created a pamphlet to help staff to 'challenge embedded whiteness' in the workplace. It has told staff that 'whiteness' is defined by 'ideas, ways of working and normative values that can support, directly or indirectly, the continuation of racial inequalities and a lack or racial diversity in institutions'. To tackle these ideas the museum has produced a 'tool for culture change', part of its equity, diversity and inclusion strategy that aims to make the attraction become 'genuinely anti-racist'. This tool, a pamphlet for staff, states that the museum's 'culture and ways of working' support 'institutional forms of racism' and needs to change. It consists of a series of questions which staff should ask themselves in order to 'work differently' and in a way that will 'challenge inequity'. The prompts to challenge 'whiteness' include asking whether they can 'promote less hierarchical working', and whether they 'encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to work'. Others include 'how am I contributing to advancing race equity in my daily work?' and 'how will I know I am nurturing a safe space for everyone?'. A key question includes: 'Am I making space and time for important conversations about race equity? How are we continuing to challenge embedded whiteness?' The term 'whiteness' is used by critical race theorists to refer to the values of white society. It is argued that the actions of white people are taken for granted as the norm, and that this excludes or belittles the cultures of other races. Concepts such as 'punctuality' and 'hard work' have been suggested by some US institutions to be white values which exclude others. The London Museum, under the directorship of Sharon Ament since 2012, was rebranded from the Museum of London in 2024. The museum was based in the City, but will be moving its main location to Smithfield Market. Its tool for culture change was first produced in 2023 to support the museum's plans to become more anti-racist, particularly after Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. After these protests, a statue of slave owner Robert Milligan was removed from outside the London Museum Docklands site. Leaders said the statue was 'part of the ongoing problematic regime of whitewashing history' and the piece was put into storage before being added to the museum collection for reinterpretation. In 2023, Dr Rebecca Redfern, a curator at the museum, produced research suggesting that racism in mediaeval England may have contributed to black people dying of bubonic plague. A paper put forward the theory that misogynoir, prejudice against black women, created a risk of death by plague in 14th-century London. The London Museum has committed to ensuring that its research output will touch on 'the issues of diversity affecting our society, our collection and our own organisation'.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
London Museum gifted thousands of Roman artefacts
London Museum has received £20m and more than 14,000 Roman artefacts from a US charitable organisation. The gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies is the largest private donation and largest archive of archaeological material given to the museum to date. The artefacts were discovered during construction of Bloomberg's European headquarters in the City of London between 2012 and 2014. The museum plans to put them on public display when it opens its new premises in Smithfield next year. Sharon Ament, director of the London Museum, described the artefacts collection as "a momentous gift that ties the past to the future and which will be a lasting legacy for London". Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses the charitable donations of global financial news organisation Bloomberg and its founder former New York mayor and business leader, Michael R. Bloomberg. On this donation Mr Bloomberg said: "These remarkable artefacts offer a unique window into the past, connecting us directly to the voices of its ancient inhabitants. "As someone who considers London my second home, I'm honoured that our company will be able to help bring these stories to life while strengthening the City's future." Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: "Bloomberg has been a huge cultural champion for London, and this is a great example of public and private sectors working together to help realise bold plans for our capital's future." In September, Sir Sadiq and the City of London Corporation announced they would commit £25m to the museum on top of their previous contributions. Known as home to a temple to the Roman god Mithras, discoveries on the Bloomberg site include Britain's largest, earliest and most significant collection of Roman writing tablets. They reveal the earliest surviving voices of Roman Londoners, including the first written reference to London. The temple and around 600 of the artefacts have been on public display at the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE since 2017. Following closure of its London Wall site, London Museum is scheduled to re-open at its new home in Smithfield in 2026. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to London Museum receives additional £50m for new home Glittery pigeon poo splat logo divides opinion Secrets of the past uncovered at Victorian market London Museum
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bloomberg gifts £20m and Roman artefacts to London Museum
London Museum has received £20m and more than 14,000 Roman artefacts from a US charitable gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies is the largest private donation and largest archive of archaeological material given to the museum to artefacts were discovered during construction of Bloomberg's European headquarters in the City of London between 2012 and museum plans to put them on public display when it opens its new premises in Smithfield next year. Sharon Ament, director of the London Museum, described the artefacts collection as "a momentous gift that ties the past to the future and which will be a lasting legacy for London".Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses the charitable donations of global financial news organisation Bloomberg and its founder former New York mayor and business leader, Michael R. this donation Mr Bloomberg said: "These remarkable artefacts offer a unique window into the past, connecting us directly to the voices of its ancient inhabitants. "As someone who considers London my second home, I'm honoured that our company will be able to help bring these stories to life while strengthening the City's future."Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: "Bloomberg has been a huge cultural champion for London, and this is a great example of public and private sectors working together to help realise bold plans for our capital's future."In September, Sir Sadiq and the City of London Corporation announced they would commit £25m to the museum on top of their previous contributions. Known as home to a temple to the Roman god Mithras, discoveries on the Bloomberg site include Britain's largest, earliest and most significant collection of Roman writing reveal the earliest surviving voices of Roman Londoners, including the first written reference to temple and around 600 of the artefacts have been on public display at the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE since 2017. Following closure of its London Wall site, London Museum is scheduled to re-open at its new home in Smithfield in 2026.
The Independent
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
New London Museum to display Banksy's piranhas police sentry box artwork
London Museum has announced it has acquired Banksy's piranhas artwork for display in its new location in the city's Smithfield area next year. The artwork, which saw fish painted in a police sentry box, made headlines last summer when it appeared as part of the street artist's animal-themed collection in the capital, which concluded with a gorilla appearing to lift up a shutter on the entrance to London Zoo. London Museum, which will move from the city's Docklands to its new location in 2026, will display the work after the City Of London Corporation's Culture, Heritage And Libraries Committee voted to donate it to the attraction. Director of London Museum, Sharon Ament, said: 'The only thing better than having a Banksy appear on the walls of London Museum in Smithfield or Docklands is having a Banksy on display inside. 'No other artist connects with people so profoundly, with such vigour, humour, and honesty than Banksy. 'If you're lucky, a Banksy will appear at the end of the road in which you live and it's always a moment when one does. 'Banksy brings art to the streets and it's for everyone. 'We are that, too, in the context of a museum, of course, so what a great acquisition and gift to have for the people of London – a City of London Police Box, filled with piranhas.' Prior to the painting, which made it resemble a fish tank, the sentry box had stood in Ludgate Hill since the 1990s. Following confirmation from the artist that it was his work, the box was relocated by the City Of London Corporation to Guildhall Yard, where thousands of visitors viewed it from behind safety barriers, and more recently to Guildhall's South Ambulatory. The artwork will be carefully removed from Guildhall this year and placed temporarily in the museum's stores before it goes on permanent public display in 2026. It comes after the corporation pledged £222 million to both the museum's relocation, which is expected to attract two million visitors annually and create more than 1,500 jobs, and the Barbican Centre. Policy chairman of the City Of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said: 'When the piece appeared in the City and being acutely aware of Banksy's popularity, we relocated it swiftly to protect it and ensure that it could be viewed safely and retained for future generations to enjoy. 'The piece, alongside the museum's wider collection, will tell the story of London's unique and diverse history. 'The new London Museum is just one of the many attractions that visitors can explore and experience in the Square Mile, and I know this artwork will delight all who see it.' Banksy's London animals collection was made up of nine works including a rhino seemingly mounting a silver Nissan Micra, two elephant silhouettes with their trunks stretched out towards each other, and three monkeys that looked as though they were swinging on a bridge. The works created numerous headlines in 2024, as the works were stolen, covered up, and vandalised, after being painted across the city from August 5 to August 13.
