In May 2025 Brigstow Institute launched a funding cycle around the theme of ‘Postcolonial natural history collections and museum and archive practices’. The theme looks to bring together individuals from diverse disciplines and practices who are interested in exploring the research value of natural history collections and archives, and postcolonial methods of museum and archive practices.
Jo Elsworth, Associate Director (Culture and Collections), explains why this is such an important area of work: "it feels more important than ever to address the colonial legacies within archive and museum collections, and by working together with academics and artists, archivists and curators can begin to rebalance the stories our collections tell in more inclusive and innovative ways".
In collaboration with Bristol Museums, and University of Bristol Collections, we hosted an Ideation workshop on the theme to support those working in this area to make connections, share ideas and form collaborative research teams. The energy behind this theme was phenomenal.
We are delighted to share that we have awarded five research teams with Connections funding. Connections funding gives time and space for research teams to develop and solidify growing ideas, partnerships and plans.
Brigstow Institute Director, Professor Debbie Watson looks forward to the next stages of this thematic funding cycle: “this is a new way of working for us and we are excited to see how these initial ideas will develop and to think about how we can best support these collaborative teams”.
From 18th Century water management along slave trading routes to examining amateur family photos from the British empire, find out what topics our newly funded connections projects will be researching.