Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums honour veteran race relations campaigner

22 January 2018

Dr Hari Shukla Fund established to support the development of TWAM's diversity and inclusion programmes

Prominent guests, friends and family came together on Friday 5 January, at Discovery Museum, to recognise the life’s work of race relations campaigner Dr Hari Shukla CBE, and to launch a new book illustrating his colourful journey at the heart of equality campaigning on Tyneside.

Having spent his formative years in Kenya, Dr Shukla arrived in the North East in 1974 to become the area's community race relations officer. Following a successful career in race and religious affairs spanning over four decades, he’s become one of the region’s leading multi-cultural ambassadors.

On the night, Dr Shukla was awarded the first ever ‘Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion’ certificate in recognition of his notable partnership with Discovery Museum, and for his enduring commitment to promoting museums as places of tolerance, learning and community belonging.

The award was presented by Iain Watson, Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums who said:

“Dr Hari Shukla is an inspiration and a true friend of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. His help in developing our work with under-represented communities has been invaluable and I am delighted that he has agreed to be our first Ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion, and support us in this important area of development’.

To mark the occasion, the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Development Trust has established the Dr Hari Shukla Fund to support the development of its diversity and inclusion programmes and underpin the vital work which helps to keep the majority of its museums, galleries and archives free to all.

The Art of Giving, published by Tyne Bridge Publishing shares interesting anecdotes and insights that illustrate just how much he’s done for community cohesion on Tyneside. 

Dr Hari Shukla CBE, said:

“In those early years a multicultural society was regarded as a liability, but today, we in Tyneside regard it as an asset. It is possible to create a successful multicultural society but we need to create an environment where everyone is able to contribute to the wellbeing of the community.

Museums, galleries and archives play an important role in promoting community belonging and I was delighted to launch my new book at Discovery Museum which houses ‘Destination Tyneside’ – a permanent display reflecting the history of migrants to our region.”

Media enquiries

For further information and images, contact Kate Fyall, Communications Officer: e-mail: kate.fyall@twmuseums.org.uk (0191) 277 2169