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Tel: +44 (0)117 925 4980

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Breaking the Chains


Breaking the Chains brochure

Breaking the Chains - The Fight to End Slavery

Open every day 10am - 5pm.

Breaking The Chains

"A magnificent carefully researched and presented exhibit."
Nancy Nelson, Denver, Colorado, USA.

"I emerged from the slavery exhibition feeling so moved."
Rosy Barnes, Edinburgh, Scotland.

"Excellent - a very sobering experience."
Louise McMillan, Bristol, England

METRO

BREAKING THE CHAINS is a £1 million Heritage Lottery Funded exhibition that has been created to mark the significance of 2007 in consultation with community members, and in partnership with Bristol's Museums, Galleries and Archives.

This ground-breaking exhibition presents authentic artefacts, film, music, photography, video and personal testimonies to provide visitors with an incredible multi-sensory experience. The entire top floor of the Museum will contain six dedicated galleries covering the following key areas:

Gallery 1. What is slavery?

Slavery has existed throughout history. It still exists today. Discover what made the transatlantic slave trade so different from all other forms of human bondage.

Gallery 2. Africa and Europe

Immerse yourself in the richness and diversity of African culture. See how the slave trade dramatically changed the lives of both Africans and Europeans.

Gallery 3: The Caribbean

Journey across the ‘middle passage’ and experience the reality of life and death in the Americas.

Gallery 4: The Age of Abolition

Violent resistance or peaceful protest? Find out what really brought the slave trade to an end.

Gallery 5. In slavery’s footsteps

What is the price of freedom? See and hear about life in the Caribbean after abolition.

ME DEYA THEATRE AND FILM

A multimedia gallery presenting a variety of opinions, ideas and feelings about the contemporary legacies of the slave trade. Touch screens open up a variety of specially commissioned short films responding to the themes of racism, identity, wealth, poverty and people trafficking.

VOX BOX

A place to record your own thoughts and responses in audio or video format to any aspect of the 'Breaking the Chains' exhibition.

MUSIC AND ORAL HISTORY

Personal testimonies, historical memoirs and modern day descendants bring this history to life through the exhibition’s interactive sound stations. See and hear how both spoken word and music provided an important vehicle for African expression and how black music has had a major influence on today’s popular culture.

FAMILY LEARNING

To help younger visitors explore and understand the history and legacies of the slave trade, a special learning pack will shortly be available to all families visiting the exhibition, including trails and activity sheets.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

A detailed teacher’s guide to the exhibition’s galleries with worksheets and a CD Rom is available to support group visits and follow-up classroom activities. The pack will incorporate a number of formal learning techniques to explain and investigate the subject, including personal testimonies, images, maps, documents and key stage links.

For more information on the Museum’s award winning Education programme call 0117 925 4980 or email: learning@empiremuseum.co.uk

Social Dreaming Project

Be a part of an interesting experiment. Draw on your conscious and unconscious mind by interpreting slavery related issues in the Breaking the Chains exhibition. Click here for more.

Entry to Breaking the Chains is included with normal Museum admission prices.

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Station Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QH

Tel: +44 (0)117 925 4980

Fax: +44 (0)117 925 4983

Copyright © British Empire & Commonwealth Museum 2007. All Rights Reserved. Registered Charity Number 1097205.