Reimagining Representation: Inside Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery
“Whose stories do we get to see in a museum—and from which perspective?”
This question, posed by Nusrat Ahmed, Lead Curator of the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum, became the guiding principle behind one of the UK’s most ambitious and inclusive cultural projects.
In 2023, Manchester Museum—part of the University of Manchester—unveiled its transformed South Asia Gallery. Far more than a refurbishment, this was a radical rethinking of what a museum can be: a space shaped by the people it represents. Developed in partnership with the British Museum, the gallery is the UK’s first permanent space dedicated to the lived experiences of the South Asian diaspora.
A Collective Vision
What makes this gallery truly groundbreaking is its co-curation model. Over five years, a collective of 30 co-curators—artists, historians, scientists, students, musicians, and community organisers—worked alongside museum professionals to shape the gallery’s content, design, and ethos. Their lived experiences and personal stories formed the foundation of the gallery’s six thematic “anthologies,” each exploring different facets of South Asian identity and heritage.
Rather than beginning with objects, the team started with stories. Workshops invited people to share their narratives on their own terms, ensuring the gallery was emotionally resonant and community-led from the outset.
Nusrat Ahmed’s own journey reflects the gallery’s ethos. With no traditional museum background, her first museum visit was a forgettable school trip. Years later, through community engagement work, she returned to museums—not as a visitor, but as a bridge between institutions and South Asian communities. Her leadership ensured the gallery was not just about artefacts, but about people and their voices.
One particularly moving moment came when a group of South Asian women recreated an object from the museum’s collection. Their version was displayed alongside the original. When they saw their work in the gallery, it was deeply emotional. “It was huge,” Nusrat recalls. “It showed how important their visibility and value is.”
Designing with Care
The gallery features 140 objects:
- 39% from the British Museum
- 20% from Manchester Museum
- 15% from institutional loans
- 30% from the co-curators themselves
Each object was treated with equal value, regardless of origin. The design process was equally collaborative. Six design teams pitched to the collective, who chose the one that best understood their vision. A shared glossary helped demystify museum jargon, enabling informed decision-making. Contributors were paid artist-rate fees, and the process was flexible—often shaped around the co-curators’ availability and needs.
Navigating Complexity and Care
One of the most profound learnings was the emotional toll of sharing lived experiences—especially traumatic ones. A dedicated “care panel” in the gallery, co-written with contributors, acknowledges this complexity and invites visitors to engage with sensitivity. This aspect of the project—supporting contributors through the trauma of retelling—was one of the most unexpected and important lessons.
The team regularly paused to ask: Are we doing the right thing by everyone? This approach was essential to staying true to the gallery’s values.
A Living, Breathing Space
The gallery’s impact has been extraordinary. In its first two weeks, 80,000 people visited—queues stretched for hours. In its first year, it welcomed over 900,000 visitors—double the museum’s usual numbers. A third of visitors came from the global majority, and 12% were visiting a museum for the first time.
Recognising that no single gallery can capture the full complexity of South Asia, the museum created a flexible project space for performances, workshops, and evolving exhibitions. This allows the gallery to grow and adapt, telling new stories without needing to overhaul the permanent display.
Legacy and Recognition
The South Asia Gallery is more than an exhibition—it’s a movement. It has redefined how museums can work with communities, shifting power without losing integrity. It’s about opening doors, not closing ranks.
In 2024, the gallery was awarded European Museum of the Year, a testament to its innovation, inclusivity, and impact.
If you haven’t visited yet—go. It’s not just a gallery. It’s a glimpse into the future of museums.
