Shakespeare Museum Decolonizes Amid Critique of Supremacy

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon is undertaking a project to 'decolonize' the museum associated with William Shakespeare, aiming to create a more inclusive museum experience. This initiative involves reevaluating the language and interpretations of Shakespeare's works within the museum's collections, which have been critiqued for promoting racist, sexist, and homophobic ideas, and perpetuating white European supremacy. The Trust plans to address harmful descriptions and offensive language in its cataloging process as part of this effort. This decolonization process follows a collaborative research project with Dr. Helen Hopkins, which argued that presenting Shakespeare as a 'universal genius' reinforces Anglo-centric and Eurocentric worldviews. The Trust's initiative is supported by funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, emphasizing diversity and inclusion. This move reflects a broader cultural shift, with some institutions and productions implementing trigger warnings for 'misogyny and racism' in Shakespeare's work.