How race is addressed in the council area, with particular regard to cultural activities and the built environment - Find a freedom of information request

I am interested in how race is addressed in the council area, with particular regard to cultural activities and the built environment.

For the last year up to date, but inclusive of information and documents from work which may have begun before this period and is still being pursued by the council.

(For example, a project to identify monument may have begun in 2020, but the list compiled from this project may still be used by the council now)

Please disregard requests to schools, galleries, museums libraries as appropriate - if the council does not control these

1. Could you please provide any list or review/research/report/survey of locations (streets/buildings/parks), or public art (such as statues), plaques, commemorations, graves, memorials that the council has produced in relation to slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice. 

In question form: 'What in the built environment has the organisation, or a group working on its behalf, identified as being linked to racism, slavery, colonialism: that is, contested

history?'

2. Could you please provide details of what being done to highlight, reinterpret, redisplay, or rename aspects of the environment in the council area identifying in part 1 of this request

In question form:  'What work (such as adding interpretation, or information boards, or plaques close to contested monuments) has been undertaken by the council to address these legacies?

3. If applicable, can you please provide information on what is being done to address issues of slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice in council museums/galleries?

For example, what information boards have been added, what has been taken off display or put on display, what new plaques have been erected?

4. The same as for part 3, but can you provide information on how council libraries have addressed these issues.

For example, have any books been specifically banned or removed from the library? Has a system of trigger warnings been established for sensitive topics?

Could you please provide details of any books which have been taken from public display and perhaps placed at the desk, or in a reserve stack, because they may be offensive or inappropriate?

(This can be broad, I do not need an full check of all items in the library; please do not get bogged won in this if it is likely to go over the limit)

5. For any council run or supported events in the area, how have these events been more inclusive or a greater focus on diversity?

For example, Bonfire nights or Christmas lights events

6. For any schools affiliated with the council, could you provide details on how the curriculum has been diversified?

Council provide any details or advice to school provided by the council on design the curriculum.

1. Nil.

2. Not applicable.

3. Lincolnshire County Council’s (LCC) collections, sites and the stories it explore within its visitor offer are no exceptions to the developing understanding around the issues referenced above.

Initial work has been undertaken to review collections of objects and archives relating to histories of colonialism and imperialism. Additionally, the sites LCC work in also contain direct, tangible links to these histories.  Internally LCC has begun assessing its collections and its documentation, and are looking to expand its understanding of the items in LCC’s care, including how they came to be in the collections and their histories.

In terms of the future development of LCC’s collections there are strict ethical and moral principles within the UK's museum sector today that rightly prohibit the continued collection of contentious material in the context of colonial histories. However, within contemporary collecting, as part of our role in highlighting and facilitating reflections on these important issues LCC is committed to opportunities to diversify its collection to prompt new conversation on contentious themes and celebrating diversity.

As a museum responsible for all of the items in LCC’s care, its public facing role is to unpick, highlight and represent the many different layers in an object's story which may resonate in different ways with different people. Our approach here is to look to highlight these narratives through an ongoing conversation with LCC audiences, local communities and other stakeholders where of relevance within its offer.

LCC’s approach has resulted in the developed of a position statement on contentious collections in relation to decolonisation encompassing the above development strands. This focuses on openness and transparency and encouraging contributions made by its audiences to enhance LCC’s understandings of these issues.

Within the exhibitions programme and Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation award LCC is actively working to encourage contributions made by artists and students, showing, or making work as part of an exhibition or display that enhance LCC’s understandings of the above referenced issues.

4. The function of a library service is to provide, as far as resources allow, all books, periodicals etc. other than the trivial, in which its readers claim a legitimate interest. In determining what a legitimate interest is, the librarian may safely rely on one guide only – the law of the land. If the publication of such matter has not incurred penalties under the law it should not be excluded from libraries on any moral, political, religious or racist grounds alone, to satisfy any sectional interest.

5. The culture service strives to deliver a broad range of events and services reaching the full spectrum of existing and potential audiences.  Events are delivered in line with Lincolnshire County Council’s commitment to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and promoting good relations for both employees and for the people of Lincolnshire. LCC value everyone in our diverse county, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity, pregnancy, maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion, belief, or whether someone is married or in a civil partnership. This is supported through regular audience evaluation and performance data. As part of decision making, LCC conduct Equality Impact Assessments to make sure that its policies, practices, services and functions consider the impact of its decisions on people with different characteristics. LCC also recognise its responsibility to ensure that organisations it commission, to provide services on LCC’s behalf, deliver the same approach.

6. Maintained schools are provided with guidance on curriculum design through the education team. This team seeks assurance from the governing body and the had teacher that the school’s curriculum complies with the relevant legislation and guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) in respect of diversity and inclusion and the teaching of British Values.

Individual schools are responsible for ensuring that their curriculums meet the needs of their pupils and that leaders fulfil their public sector equality duty.

School curriculums are accessible through the individual schools’ web sites.

Osted inspect schools and their compliance in respect of the legislation.