Councils public art and museums enquiry
Case reference FOI2026/00512
Received 4 March 2026
Published 31 March 2026
Request
Could you please provide the following information for projects from January 2024 up to date and also for ongoing work and upcoming, planned work:
1. Public art.
a) What is being done to make the town hall space more inclusive in terms of race, and LGBT inclusion?
b) What artworks have been installed or removed to help with this? Paintings linked to empire and slavery for example.
c) What public art more generally, has been commissioned to improve diversity and inclusion?
d) What public art more generally, has been removed, or given greater context, or reviewed for links to offensive or outmoded issues - statues linked to empire and slavery, for example.
2. Local museums.
a) What is being done to make local museums (if applicable) more inclusive in terms of race, and LGBT inclusion?
b) What displays have been added or updated to help with this? For example, have outdated displays been taken down?
c) What research is being undertaken?
d) What tours are available?
e) What advice on racial inclusion and LTGBT issues is provided to staff?
3. Libraries.
a) If applicable, what is being done to make local libraries more inclusive in terms of race, and LGBT inclusion?
b) What books have been added to stock in relation to this?
c) What books have been removed or moved to a reserve stack, or a less prominent place, because their content might be problematic; for example, outdated, racist, homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic?
d) Can you provide details of any complaint received in the timeframe relating to the above issues?
Response
Please find the answers to your queries below:
Could you please provide the following information for projects from January 2024 up to date and also for ongoing work and upcoming, planned work:
1. Public art.
a) What is being done to make the town hall space more inclusive in terms of race, and LGBT inclusion?
N/A – Guildford does not have a town hall space.
b) What artworks have been installed or removed to help with this? Paintings linked to empire and slavery for example.
N/A.
c) What public art more generally, has been commissioned to improve diversity and inclusion?
N/A.
d) What public art more generally, has been removed, or given greater context, or reviewed for links to offensive or outmoded issues - statues linked to empire and slavery, for example.
N/A.
2. Local museums.
a) What is being done to make local museums (if applicable) more inclusive in terms of race, and LGBT inclusion?
We hosted Curtis Holder and his exhibition Portraits of Brotherhood at our Guildford House Gallery in 2024. This was a display depicting intimate portrayals of Black men. The artworks offered a multifaceted exploration of identity, masculinity, vulnerability and resilience against a backdrop of pervasive societal stereotypes.
Our collections development policy recognises that our collection of objects requires development in relation to LGBTQ+ and race, and is therefore a collections priority for us, subject to availability of object storage space.
We’re looking to develop our strategy for the Heritage Service (which is responsible for our museum and gallery) which will align with the priorities in the council’s corporate strategy, including being ‘a more inclusive borough – a welcoming borough where people of diverse identities feel valued, respected, included, supported, and represented’.
We continue to try and programme a broad mix of exhibitions, events, and activities which aims to meet the needs of our communities, and increases access to our spaces and collection. This includes our ‘Hidden Stories’ displays which tell less obvious stories about our objects and have included displays around the boycotting of the sugar trade in response to slavery.
b) What displays have been added or updated to help with this? For example, have outdated displays been taken down?
As above.
c) What research is being undertaken?
At present, no research is being undertaken. However, colleagues keep on top of industry updates from organisations such as MDSE, Museums Association, and Surrey Museums Partnership.
d) What tours are available?
We provide grant support to Guildford Town Guides who lead a tour around the town about Alan Turing; other tours on the history of Guildford are also available.
e) What advice on racial inclusion and LTGBT issues is provided to staff?
We provide council wide Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training which is available to all staff and is mandatory for new joiners.
3. Libraries.
a) If applicable, what is being done to make local libraries more inclusive in terms of race, and LGBT inclusion?
b) What books have been added to stock in relation to this?
c) What books have been removed or moved to a reserve stack, or a less prominent place, because their content might be problematic; for example, outdated, racist, homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic?
d) Can you provide details of any complaint received in the timeframe relating to the above issues?
Please note that libraries do not fall under Guildford Borough Council’s area of responsibility – this sits with Surrey County Council and therefore you would need to query this part of your request with them.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
Guildford Borough Council
Documents
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