What stories do museum objects tell, and which ones have been left out?

This is one of the powerful questions at the heart of Decolonise! a new trail at Manchester Museum. The self-guided resource invites visitors to reflect on how museums have been shaped by colonial histories and encourages thoughtful conversation about power, representation and accountability.

The trail was officially launched on the evening of Wednesday 7 May, with a public event featuring a panel discussion with Sanna Yousef, an artist and young researcher on Ancient History, Contemporary Belonging and Raymond Mashizha, Visitor Team Assistant and PhD candidate in Heritage and Museum Studies. Guests were among the first to experience the trail and had the chance to connect with others interested in decolonial work.

Chloe Cousins, Social Justice Manager, Manchester Museum, explaines: “It’s a bold invitation to our visitors to question our displays and be more curious about our history.”

Decolonise! includes eight stops throughout the Museum’s galleries, each prompting visitors to reflect on the legacy of empire, the ethics of collecting, and some of the voices that have historically been silenced or misrepresented. Some trail points provide additional historical context and address the removal of cultural belongings during colonial rule, while others highlight existing decolonial work taking place within the galleries.

Developed as part of the Museum’s ongoing commitment to anti-racism, equity, and social justice, the trail offers a more thorough, transparent and inclusive history of its collections, recognising the realities of empire and ensuring the Museum is a space for critical reflection and open dialogue.

Chloe continues: “Museums are changing. More and more, practice is centred in justice and in orienting power away from museums and towards communities whose belongings are held here. The trail is an intervention that directly asks visitors to join us in this reflective work.”

The trail doesn’t require any prior knowledge, just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to engage. It is designed to be accessible and flexible, encouraging visitors to move at their own pace. Some content touches on themes such as racism, colonial violence, and homophobia, and the Museum’s Social Justice team offers support and welcomes further conversation.

Whether you’re a regular visitor or new to the Museum, Decolonise! offers a fresh and reflective way to connect. It’s more than a trail, it’s the start of a conversation, and everyone is invited to join.

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