Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum is teaming up with the Guardian newspaper to explore the city’s connections to transatlantic slavery. This partnership aims to improve public understanding about how slavery has shaped Manchester.
The collaboration will focus on new research and the creation of a free exhibition that highlights the city’s historical links to enslavement. The Guardian’s Legacies of Enslavement Programme, launched in 2023, came after a study revealed how John Edward Taylor, the newspaper’s founder, was connected to the slave trade.
In response, the Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian, issued an apology for Taylor’s involvement in enslavement. They are now committed to a decade-long effort to raise awareness of the impact of slavery on the UK and its ongoing effects on Black communities, with an emphasis on Manchester.
The exhibition is set to open in early 2027 and will be hosted in the museum’s Special Exhibitions Gallery for a year. This site has historical significance; it once served as a railway hub where cotton produced by enslaved people was transported.
The project will include city-wide events and aims to establish long-term initiatives, such as a permanent schools program and ongoing displays in the future. Museum director Sally MacDonald shared her excitement about this unique opportunity to tell important stories about history and its relevance today.
The exhibition will delve into themes like resilience, identity, and creativity, while also addressing exploitation and inequality. There will be a particular focus on how scientific and technological advancements were influenced by transatlantic slavery.
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of the Guardian, noted that many founders of the paper benefited from the slavery linked to Manchester’s cotton industry. She emphasized the need for greater awareness and understanding of these historical ties, especially among local communities, particularly those of Caribbean and African descent.
By announcing this partnership two years before the exhibition’s launch, they hope to engage with the community and gather input to shape the exhibit effectively.
