The Manchester Contemporary Chinese Art Museum, which closed in 2021 due to a series of controversies and criticisms, has now resumed its activities with a new name and a different perspective. This museum, once a hub of creativity and innovative ideas, became a dark point in its history following events during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Challenging Times
In March 2020, visual artist JJ Chan was preparing a video for a group exhibition at this museum that focused on her family's home VHS tapes. This work, titled "A New Constellation: The Chinese Diaspora Now," explored Chan's complex emotional relationship with Hong Kong, her parents' homeland. However, when Chan sought guidance after the sudden departure of the main curator, she discovered that among the 13 staff members, only one was not Chinese, and the other 12 were white.
Chan's concern was that her art would be shaped through a white racial lens, so she decided to withdraw and wrote an open letter to the museum, referencing the use of her experiences and traumas for the benefit of a dominant population. This letter sounded the alarm and highlighted that the lack of diversity in this space had become a serious issue.
Efforts for Change
Following these events, the organization sought to hire seven artists of Chinese heritage to improve the diversity deficit, but this move quickly faced criticism from artists regarding institutional racism and ultimately led to the resignation of six board members and several staff. After closing due to COVID-19, this art space never reopened and became a reminder of the challenges faced by cultural institutions.
Now, with its reopening and a new mission, this museum is striving to act as a true and diverse center for showcasing contemporary Chinese art in Manchester. Will these changes be enough for this museum to emerge from the shadows of its past and become a symbol of unity and diversity?
