St Andrews and Empire: object handling session with the St Andrews Preservation Trust

In 2023, the St Andrews Preservation Trust organised the exhibition St Andrews and Empire at its Museum, which resulted from research, begun in 2021 with students from the University's Museum and Heritage Studies course, to examine colonial links in the Trust's collection and explore possibilities for decolonisation.

Most objects in the St Andrews Preservation Trust's collection date from the peak of the British Empire in the early 20th century. Examining the collection through the lens of empire has provided new perspectives on the origin of objects, and the impact on people across the world. These objects are a snapshot of the hundreds of objects in the Trust's collection linked to colonialism and empire. Telling their stories represent first steps in an ongoing process exploring the wider, and perhaps more complex, narratives that the collection holds.

This interactive event will include handling some of the items that featured in the St Andrews and Empire exhibition. The object handling session will be led by Ashab Ahmad, Project Outreach Officer at the St Andrews Preservation Trust, and will provide the opportunity to reflect on theorigins of these objects, the possibilities and challenges of decolonisation, and the links between St Andrews, colonialism, empire and diaspora more broadly.

This free event is supported by the St Andrews Centre for Contemporary Art and Scotland's Future Series and held in conjunction with the Transnational Island Museologies Conference.

You do not need to be registered as a conference delegate to attend this event. Find out more and book your free place on Eventbrite.