Museums for Everyone - Sheffield Museums Trust

Sheffield Museums believe that the museums and collections we care for belong to everyone and connecting with them can make people’s lives better.

People encounter many barriers that make connecting with their museums difficult. Sheffield Museums is committed to working collaboratively to make long-lasting changes, so more people can use the museums to learn and reflect, and to find joy and inspiration. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of our commitment.

Donald Rodney, Britannia Hospital 2, 1988 © Estate Of Donald Rodney

What is Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?

Equity

Equity refers to fairness and justice. People do not all start from the same position in life, or enjoy the same privileges and opportunities. Sheffield Museums acknowledges the imbalances inherent in our society and is taking action to address them.

As part of an ongoing process, we’re working to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures. The way we recruit our team is continuing to be reviewed and changed and the ways that people can access Sheffield’s collections and exhibitions will continue to be broadened.

Diversity

Diversity is about recognising the benefits of different values, abilities, and perspectives, and celebrating those differences.

This means promoting an environment that welcomes, values and celebrates diverse backgrounds, thinking, skills and experience. It will be realised through collaboration with a wide range of people and organisations so that lived experiences and multiple, authentic voices shape the stories the museums tell.

Inclusion

Inclusion is ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities and resources, and where everyone feels valued and accepted.

Everyone should be able to contribute and have a voice. This means dedicating time and resources to facilitating participation, and to understanding the barriers people face and working to remove them.

Two children wearing paper helmets and holding clipboards.

Our Commitment

Sheffield Museums is committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and becoming a service that is fully inclusive in its approach to collecting, programming and organisational culture.

Anti-racism is at the heart of that commitment. In 2021, we asked an external consultancy to undertake a Race Inclusion Maturity Assessment of the organisation. The final report, received in summer 2022, detailed a number of recommendations across different areas of our work. The report has informed a series of specific and scheduled actions that are being prioritised and delivered by team members right across the museums.

This work is complemented by further strands of activity that focus on Decolonisation and Access and Inclusivity, which are being regularly reviewed to ensure their progress. In spring 2023 we were awarded a Level One Race in Heritage Award in recognition of our ongoing work across the organisation.

To achieve our goal of museums for everyone, embedding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion across all of our work is key. Priority areas of activity will be underpinned by information and insight, by expertise in all its forms, and by listening and learning.

We will work to:

Attract, develop, support and retain a diverse workforce
Collect and programme inclusively, representing new and different perspectives and lived experiences
Broaden audiences and engage with under-served communities
Foster a working culture that has Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at its heart