Colston statue to go on temporary display in M Shed

Nearly a year to the day since the statue of Edward Colston was toppled from its plinth, it is due to go on display.

Last seen being dragged out of the docks, the hollow bronze monument will form part of a temporary display across the water in M Shed, complete with the graffiti and bike tyre it was retrieved with.

The statue of the notorious slaver was removed from the place it had stood since Victorian times during a Black Lives Matter protest on June 7 2020 and thrown in the docks.

It marked a historic moment for Bristol and sparked a series of changes across the city as institutions and places sought to shed their connections with the Colston name.

After its retrieval from the water, the statue was handed over to the city’s museums team, who found remarkable secrets hidden within it.

The Colston statue will go on display surrounded by placards – photo by Martin Booth

The council has now announced it will go on temporary display at M Shed from Friday, June 4, surrounded by placards from the protest, as well as a timeline of events.

The We Are Bristol History Commission, formed in the wake of the statue being toppled, has also drafted a survey, which will be launched at the same time as the exhibition asking for people in the city to give their views on the future of the statue to help determine the next steps.

Mayor Marvin Rees said: “June 7 2020 is undoubtedly a significant day in Bristol’s history and had a profound impact not just in our city but also across the country and around the world.

“The Colston statue: What next? display at M Shed is a temporary exhibition which aims to start a conversation about our history. The We Are Bristol History Commission will be leading that conversation with citizens over the coming months.

“The future of the statue must be decided by the people of Bristol and so I urge everyone to take the opportunity to share their views and help inform future decisions by taking part in the survey.”

The Colston statue will go on display nearly a year after it was toppled – photo by Martin Booth

Feedback from the public survey will inform the History Commission’s recommendation on the long-term future of the Colston statue later this year.

Responses will also be archived and made publicly accessible as a resource for researchers, schools and those who wish to learn more about Bristol’s history and the city’s links to the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved African people and its present-day legacy.

Professor Tim Cole, chair of the We Are Bristol History Commission and professor of social history at the University of Bristol, said: “The We Are Bristol History Commission has been working in partnership with the museum team to develop the display and the survey over recent months.

“This is an opportunity for everyone to have your say on how we move forward together. The display is not a comprehensive exhibition about Colston or transatlantic slavery in Bristol, but it is intended to be a departure point for continuing conversations about our shared history.’’

After its retrieval from the harbour, the conservation team at M Shed cleaned the statue and stabilised the spray paint graffiti to prevent flaking.

Fran Coles, conservation and documentation manager at M Shed, said: “The aim of our conservation work was to stabilise the statue and prevent deterioration from the water and silt it had been exposed to.

“This will prepare the statue for whatever its future may be. M Shed’s role is to reflect the history and contemporary issues relating to Bristol, telling the stories that matter to the people of Bristol.

“Therefore, it is a very suitable location for this short-term display of the statue. It will enable visitors to take stock and make their own minds up concerning the future of the statue. The display and survey will also be online, helping to reach people across the city and beyond.”

M Shed entry is free, but visits must be booked in advance to keep the galleries Covid-secure. Find out more via www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

Main photo by Jon Kent

Read more: New University of Bristol project to explore legacy of transatlantic slavery