In response to protests, the Bristolian venue will be after renamed after refurbishment
Bristol’s largest concert hall – which once hosted David Bowie and The Beatles – is set to drop its name of slave trader Edward Colston, after protests erupted.
Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees, had previously shown his disapproval for the name, saying that he “wouldn’t celebrate a slaver”. He said, “My ancestors are from slaves, I’m not a fan of [the name].”
Louise Mitchell, the chief executive of Bristol Music Trust – the charity that runs Colston Hall – said, “For us it feels like the beginning of a new dawn. We are doing this now because it is the right thing to do. It’s not about commerce. It’s about doing the right thing.”
“We want the hall to be a place open to all. That’s why we’re working so hard to champion accessibility for performers and audiences, as well as those who will be able to participate in music education and enterprise, and reviewing the name has always been part of our plan.”
The charity will be working with artists and commercial partners on the renaming. For the next year, the venue will keep its name before refurbishment. Following on from there, the name will be dropped.
(via The Guardian)