Exhibition on Empire Legacies Opens at Summerlee Museum
New display explores lasting effects of British Empire through community voices and historical connections.
By Alasdair Buchan
••2 min read
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Generic image of historical artefacts and artworks displayed in a museum, suggesting themes of legacy and community stories.
An exhibition examining the legacies of empire through the experiences of community groups across Scotland has opened at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge.
The exhibition, titled Traces of Empire and commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), invites visitors to reflect on the lasting effects of empire and consider how dialogue and actions can foster peace and healing. It follows a 2024 HES report which found that 126 of the 336 properties in its care have connections to the British Empire.
Developed in partnership with 34 co-curators from four grassroots communities across Scotland, the project brought together participants and HES staff. The exhibition explores these links through artwork, storytelling, and poetry, offering personal reflections and opportunities for visitors to engage with different experiences and perspectives shaped by colonial histories.
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"Summerlee has a proud reputation for bringing important stories to local audiences, and this exhibition encourages visitors to explore a complex part of our shared history through the voices and experiences of people and communities across Scotland. By combining art, poetry and personal storytelling, Traces of Empire creates space for reflection, discussion and understanding. We are pleased to welcome this thought-provoking exhibition to North Lanarkshire and encourage residents and visitors to take the opportunity to experience it."
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"The Traces of Empire exhibition has been a remarkably compelling project to work on, and HES is very grateful to the co-curators for their open and powerful work that will now be on display throughout the exhibition. Creating an exhibition about the legacy of empire was challenging but important and required mutual decision making on how to meaningfully approach the work. Through free and truthful communication, we hope to have created an exhibition that moves towards necessary disruption and collective healing."
Traces of Empire is on display at Summerlee Museum until 1 November 2026. Entry is free and no booking is required. Further information is available on the Historic Environment Scotland website.
