Essential Information Type Talks and tours Location National Maritime Museum Date and Times Wednesday 13 December 2023 | 6pm-8pm Prices Pay what you can Book tickets How does it feel to see 'yourself' represented - or misrepresented - in museum spaces? Join artist Sharon Walters and special guests for a live in-conversation event as they delve into the National Maritime Museum collections to look at depictions of people of African descent and their significance today. Writer and curator Ekow Eshun joins Sharon to highlight the power of historic archives in contemporary curatorial practices. The impact and intentions of Eshun’s work will also be discussed. This event will take place in the Lecture Theatre at the National Maritime Museum. This event is an extension of the 'Seeing Ourselves' podcast, developed by Sharon in collaboration with historians and artists. The project is supported by the National Maritime Museum through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project. About the speakers Image Ekow Eshun Ekow Eshun is Chairman of the Fourth Plinth, overseeing the foremost public art programme in the UK, and the former Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London. He is the curator of exhibitions including, most recently, In the Black Fantastic at the Hayward Gallery, London, awarded the Association for Art History’s Curatorial Prize for Exhibitions 2023, and author of books including Black Gold of the Sun, shortlisted for the Orwell prize. Described by The Guardian as a ‘cultural polymath’, he is the writer and presenter of documentaries including the BBC film Dark Matter: A History of the Afrofuture, the Tate Modern film series, Exploring the Black Atlantic, and the BBC Radio 4 series White Mischief. He has contributed to books on artists including Mark Bradford, Kehinde Wiley, Chris Ofili, John Akomfrah and Wangechi Mutu and his writing has appeared in publications including the New York Times, Financial Times, The Guardian and The Observer. He holds an honorary doctorate from London Metropolitan University. Image Sharon Walters Sharon Walters is a London-based artist with a fine art degree from Central St Martins. Her current series entitled, 'Seeing Ourselves' is a multi-disciplinary project celebrating Black women, their histories and futures. The work encompasses papercuts, collage works, mixed media works and events in collaboration with various organisations. The intention of her practice is to empower those who are marginalised to take up space, create our own spaces and develop opportunities to be seen, heard and instigate change. Discover more Event Seeing Ourselves: Sharon Walters in conversation with... Rudy Loewe Join artists Sharon Walters and Rudy Loewe for a discussion exploring representation in museum spaces Find out more Podcast Seeing Ourselves podcast How does feels to see 'yourself’ represented – or misrepresented – in museum spaces? Listen here What’s On Workshops | Talks & courses Saturday Art Club Join the weekly creative drop-in for young people aged 13-16 Saturdays from October - April | 10am-1pm Free National Maritime Museum Free displays Sea creatures: real and imagined See this beautiful banner created by Willow Dene School, inspired by maps and monsters in the National Maritime Museum Open daily | 10am-5pm Free National Maritime Museum Talks and tours Character Encounters Visit the National Maritime Museum every Saturday to discover a different character from history with their own fascinating story to tell Saturdays Free Entry National Maritime Museum Exhibitions Astronomy Photographer of the Year See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum Open daily | 10am-5pm Adults £10 | Concessions £6.50 | Children £5 National Maritime Museum Free displays | Identity Pioneers: A Renaissance in South Asian Creativity A series of portraits of South Asian creative individuals, on display at the National Maritime Museum. 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Explore the Museum together through song, dance and stories Term time Tuesdays | 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm £4 per child and accompanying adult | Under 6 months free National Maritime Museum Talks and tours | Identity Seeing Ourselves: Sharon Walters in conversation with... Ekow Eshun Join artist Sharon Walters and writer / curator Ekow Eshun for a discussion exploring representation in museum spaces Wednesday 13 December 2023 | 6pm-8pm Pay what you can National Maritime Museum Family fun | LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+ Family Network A safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another, get involved in creative activities for all ages and explore the stories within the collection 20 January 2024 | 10am-12pm Free National Maritime Museum Family fun | Christmas Members' crafting: Christmas stars Join us for a special Christmas themed craft workshop Sunday 17 December 2023 | 11am-11.45am, 12.15pm-1pm, 1.30pm-2.15pm, 2.45pm-3.30pm Free for Members – booking required National Maritime Museum Family fun Safe Harbour A programme for foster and adoptive families. 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