Manchester Art Museum Reopens After Controversy

The Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) in Manchester, which closed in 2021 following a series of controversies, has relaunched under a new name and with a revised mission. The institution is now known as ESEA Contemporary, signifying a commitment to East and Southeast Asian artists and communities. This rebranding follows a period of significant upheaval that began in March 2020 when visual artist JJ Chan was preparing work for an exhibition titled "A New Constellation: Chinese Diaspora Now." Chan's artwork explored their complex relationship with Hong Kong, their parents' birthplace, using family VHS tapes. Upon seeking guidance after the departure of the initial curator, Chan discovered that the CFCCA employed no Chinese staff members, with 12 out of 13 staff being white, while many front-facing volunteers were of Chinese descent.

Fearing their art would be interpreted through a non-Chinese perspective, Chan withdrew from the exhibition and published an open letter to the centre. In the letter, Chan stated, "My experience, and my trauma, are being used as a leg-up into an industry for an already overrepresented demographic." Later in 2020, the organization attempted to address the diversity issue by recruiting seven artists of Chinese heritage for an initiative. However, this initiative was canceled when the artists raised concerns about institutional racism within the gallery. Subsequently, an artist-led working group petitioned for an international boycott of the institution, which led to the resignation of six board members and several employees. The arts space, which had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, never reopened under its original name.

The relaunch as ESEA Contemporary represents an effort to move beyond this troubled past and establish a more inclusive and representative arts institution. The new name explicitly highlights the focus on East and Southeast Asian creatives, aiming to provide a platform and foster a community for these artists. The transition signifies a deliberate attempt to rectify the systemic issues that led to the previous closure and to build a future that prioritizes diverse voices and experiences within the contemporary art world. The institution's new mission is expected to focus on showcasing and supporting artists from the ESEA diaspora, fostering cultural exchange, and engaging with the broader community in Manchester and beyond.