Esme Ward (Manchester Museum): in conversation

Abstract

Esme Ward is the Director of Manchester Museum and has been leading the ‘hello future’ £15 million capital project to transform the Museum. Re-opening in 2023, the Manchester Museum will include a brand-new South Asia Gallery, Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery and Belonging Gallery as well as an Exhibition Hall and more inclusive visitor facilities and spaces. This interview is part of a project led by Professor Bridget Byrne and Dr Roaa Ali at the Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE), University of Manchester. We have been exploring how institutional practices in cultural institutions can reproduce and mitigate ethnic inequality, and Manchester Museum has been one of our case studies.