MUSEUM bosses are seeking out a “social justice champion” to help lead its plans to “decolonise” collections over the next six years.

The joint Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service, which runs Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum and the National History Museum, revealed the plans to overhaul collections in a plan for 2021-27.

The document, approved unanimously by the joint museums committee of Colchester and Ipswich borough councils last summer, said some displays at Ipswich Museum are “problematic, with certain artefacts of questionable provenance”.

Work under the plan will see new research with indigenous sources and previously excluded stories, and re-examining how the museum came by some of its artefacts and being transparent with visitors of how they were acquired.

The strategy applies to Colchester Castle, Colchester’s Hollytrees Museum and the Natural History Museum, Ipswich Art Gallery and Christchurch Mansion.

Now a job for a senior curator for decolonial practice has been advertised.

READ MORE: Why museums in Colchester will be reviewing 'problematic' displays

The role, with a salary of £29,177 to £35,068, involves working closely with curators, designers, contractors and the museum leadership “to embed a decolonising ethos across the organisation.”

The advert added: “You will work with us and our local communities to address the legacies of imperialism, patriarchal power structures and inherent biases in our current displays.

“You will act as an advocate for tackling the colonial representation of objects, working to make the service more relevant and relatable to audiences.

“As a changemaker and meticulous researcher, you will help us to think critically and find solutions that we can deliver collectively.”

People have until May 13 to apply.

A spokesperson for Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service said: “The National Heritage Lottery Fund is providing £4.5m towards the redevelopment of Ipswich Museum. Part of this funding includes the position – a post that will allow us to link in with relevant experts and communities to explore new content and exhibits at the museum.

“Some displays contain interpretation written in a different cultural context and, at worst, present nostalgic fallacies and culturally insensitive assumptions.”

The moves comes as a wider national debate on the celebration of colonial era figures and follows the toppling of Bristol’s statue of slave trader Edward Colston.