Capital diversity
There is perhaps no other museum better placed to represent the diverse cultures and myriad lifestyles of Londoners than the eponymous Museum of London along with its sister venue, the Museum in Docklands. They are in a pre-eminent position to chart out the illustrious histories of the seven million or so living in one of the most dynamic cities in the world.
The Museum of London has built upon a strong profile amongst various communities in London whereas the Museum in Docklands, which is even more closely located next to BME populations in the East of London, is factoring these concerns into its new initiatives to produce more people-orientated collections and exhibitions.
The Museum of London has a vast range of material going back to the beginning of recorded history during the period of Roman occupation. It could also be extrapolated as going back to prehistoric London when movement and migration was certainly more fundamental, particularly when it involved the movement of mass populations and indeed geographical landmasses over time.
This longitudinal view on the histories of migration is one that undermines the common assumption that migration from further afield is primarily a post-World War II phenomena from at least two perspectives. Firstly, in that effectively all residents here have ancestry elsewhere. Secondly, in that migration from the South and East, from Africa and Asia in particular, has been happening for centuries prior to the twentieth century.
We could also cast an eye on manifestations or similarities of LGBT identities as well as on vignettes of the lives of disabled people throughout the historical material available to us. Much of this enquiry requires us to re-think our categories and approaches – which in itself is productive of fresh interpretations. For at the end of the day, history is a matter of interpreting as faithfully as one can the period under consideration as well as casting an eye over the concerns and interests of contemporary audiences.
Given the limits on resources, there has been a number of pioneering projects with visionary and imaginative leadership at the Museum of London. These have been related to contemporary concerns and drawing in new audiences. Much community involvement has been demonstrated across the range of exhibitions and media, and there continues to be good maintenance of community links.
This touches upon a debate triggered by The Peopling of London exhibition in 1993 when the question was raised of whether the Museum of London is an international museum or one that has a local orientation: how does the museum reconcile its international status (the care of collection of artefacts concerned with London) and community orientation (outreach and working with other museums of social history)? (10)
But why should the two be mutually exclusive of each other? One of the main reasons that London is such a unique and attractive city to many foreign visitors is because it is such a cosmopolitan and dynamic place steeped in history. Recognising diversity is fundamental to the cosmopolitan character of the city and thus informs its international appeal and standing, a point which was certainly made to the International Olympics Committee in the selection of London as the host city of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
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