Museum of London Hosts Brexit Debates on a Double-Decker Bus

The Museum of London launched 'Brexit Talks', a series of public discussions held on a red double-decker bus traveling across the city from March 21 to 26, 2019. The initiative invited Londoners to share their views on Brexit, aiming to capture the impact of the political issue on daily life. Stops included Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, Queen's Yard in Hackney Wick, Bromley College, and Brunel University. Those unable to attend could submit two-minute videos on Twitter or Instagram with hashtags #CuratingLDN and #Brexit, with selected videos added to a digital archive. The project is part of the museum's broader 'Curating London' program, which seeks to diversify its collection and document the city's social fabric. The bus, reminiscent of campaign vehicles, was repurposed as a platform for dialogue rather than slogans. The museum stated, 'Brexit will change London's relationship with the world. We want to capture the impact of Brexit on Londoners' daily lives.' The initiative underscores the role of museums in fostering debate and critical thinking, even on non-art topics. The Brexit issue has also inspired other artistic responses, such as the anti-Brexit residency 'London is Open' organized by Italian curators and the UK Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.