London Metropolitan University in Highbury East, Islington, is rebranding its art school, previously named after a key figure with links to slavery.
The University’s Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design has opened a consultation to students and staff for suggestions on a new name for it.
Following greater awareness of the legacy of slave traders, the university decided to remove the name of Sir John Cass after the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol on 7 June 2020. At the time, they released the following statement:
“We recognise that the use of Sir John Cass’s name contributes to the redemption of a man without acknowledging the enormous pain he caused as a major figure in the early development of the slave trade, and the legacy of this pain.
“The use of this name is incompatible with our commitment to support the Black community and actively oppose racism in all forms.”
We're inviting @londonmetuni students, alumni, staff and our wider community to help us find a new name, one that represents our creative, ambitious and diverse school. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/gsjwuQUWh1
— Art, Architecture and Design at London Met (@LdnMetArts) March 17, 2022
City, University of London, also based in Islington, decided to rebrand its business school in 2020 to dissociate from Sir John Cass. Cass Business School became Bayes Business School in September 2021.
Julia Palca, head of City Council, told the BBC at the time: “Any continued use of Sir John Cass’s name would be seen as condoning someone whose wealth in part derived from the exploitation of slavery.
“This is incompatible with our values of diversity and inclusivity. We have therefore taken the decision to remove the name.”
Sir John Cass, an English merchant and Tory MP, was employed by The Royal African Company (RAC), which kidnapped, trafficked and enslaved the largest number of people in the history of the Atlantic slave trade.
Institutions including Edinburgh University, the University of Bristol, and University College London (UCL) revised names of buildings following George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests around the globe.
The university is looking for a creative name that “represents our creative, ambitious and diverse community”. Towards this end, it is also launching a Reparatory Justice Art Project, inviting Black artist alumni to create a permanent piece of artwork to be installed at the university’s Aldgate campus. The initiative aligns with the university’s Race Equity Strategic Plan, which tackles visible and invisible systemic barriers.
Collaborative workshops involving staff, students and the wider community will help to develop these installations.
