معرفی
Dr Briony Widdis is a Research Fellow in Anthropology and Ethnomusicology within the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen's University Belfast. With thirty years of professional experience across museums and archives—including roles as Curator of Africa, Oceania and Americas at National Museums Scotland, Assistant Director at the Northern Ireland Museums Council, and Heritage Officer at Belfast City Council—she specializes in the legacies of colonialism and the British Empire in Ireland and Northern Ireland, focusing on their representation in cultural collections and interaction with social identities.
Her educational background includes a PhD from Ulster University (2020) titled 'Colonial Objects in Northern Ireland', passed without corrections. This foundational work underpins her current research trajectory.
Widdis pioneers participant autoethnography as a method for community engagement with historically complex collections, examining provenance research, histories of enslavement through the Royal African Company, and decolonisation in cultural institutions. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges anthropology, social history, and public policy to address social justice and institutional accountability in divided societies, emphasizing partnerships between communities and heritage organizations.
Recent publications and projects—including the forthcoming Routledge volume 'Museums, Empire, Colonialism: Identities, Memory and Legacies in Ireland' (2023)—reveal a cohesive focus on material culture, colonial afterlives, and innovative methodologies for transforming museum practice in postcolonial contexts.
Her scholarly contributions are recognized through prestigious awards:
- ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020)
- Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2021)
- Associateship of the Museums Association (2000)
Widdis leads significant research initiatives including two ESRC-funded projects—'MENII Memories, MENII Voices' (2023-2024) and its Phase 2—which explore community narratives and imperial legacies in Northern Ireland. She serves as Editor for the Irish Museums Association's Museum Ireland journal and on the Programming Committee of the FE McWilliam Gallery, demonstrating deep integration with cultural institutions across Ireland.
