Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust Aims to Decolonize Museum Experience

The Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, which owns several historic buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, is embarking on a significant initiative to create a more inclusive museum experience. The trust, renowned for its collection of personal documents belonging to William Shakespeare, has announced plans to remove offensive language from its collections. This move comes amid growing concerns about how the playwright's works are perceived in contemporary society.

The trust's decision aligns with efforts by many educational institutions, particularly in the United States, to reconsider Shakespeare's place in their curriculum. These institutions have previously considered removing his works due to perceptions that they promote racism. A research project conducted by the trust and Dr. Helen Hopkins from the University of Birmingham reinforced these concerns by suggesting that Shakespeare's works can support ideologies of white European supremacy.

In a related development, the Globe replica in London, another site closely associated with Shakespeare, issued a warning of "misogyny and racism" for their recent performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This reflects a broader movement within cultural institutions to address potentially problematic content within classic literature and theater.

"As part of our ongoing work, we’ve undertaken a project which explores our collections to ensure they are as accessible as possible," stated the Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust.

The trust's initiative involves researching how Shakespeare's artifacts and works could be interpreted in ways that are less offensive and more diverse and inclusive. This effort is part of a broader strategy to decolonize its hometown museum and ensure that Shakespeare's ideas are presented in a manner that resonates positively with today's audience.

"Content guidance is written in advance of the creation of each production and based on what is present in the play. These will be updated as the production comes to life," said a spokesman for the Globe, highlighting their commitment to evolving interpretations.