What to do with a 100-year-old statue of a Bristol-born philanthropist and trans-Atlantic slave trader? It’s been the question the city has been trying to answer ever since the bronze Edward Colston statue was toppled by anti-racism protestors. But we now officially know it will go on permanent display in Bristol this March.
After decades of attracting criticism, the Edward Colston statue was pulled down by the Black Lives Matter movement, spraypainted, and tossed into Bristol Harbour on June 7, 2020. After being retrieved, it was temporarily displayed at the M Shed from June 2021 to January 2022 – throughout, the We Are Bristol History Commission surveyed visitors to ask: ‘What should happen to the statue next?’
“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,” said Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol. “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.”
When will the Edward Colston statue go on permanent display?
The statue will go on display, in a glass case, from March 15, as the M Shed extends its display about the history of protest in Bristol – with the permanent inclusion of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston. The display will provide information and interpretation alongside the statue within the museum’s Bristol People gallery. A selection of placards left by the empty plinth will be displayed around the statue.
“This display aligns with our vision of creating a safe space for dialogue and understanding around Bristol’s heritage,” said Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor of Bristol and Chair of the Bristol Legacy Foundation. “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.”
There will also be a timeline, allowing visitors to contribute their own events on the themes of racism, the Colston statue, politics, and culture, featured along with an interactive screen. It will join displays on the Bristol Bus Boycott, the abolition of slavery, the suffragettes, and scrapping section 28. To learn more about what’s on at the M Shed head here.