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Bristol's Colston Hall to change its name

The Colston Hall in Bristol is to change its name to escape its "toxic" associations.

It follows a long campaign in the city from protest groups keen to distance the venue from connections to the slave trade.

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Bristol Music Trust: why we're changing the name of Colston Hall

The Chief Executive of Bristol Music Trust says the decision to change the name of Colston Hall was a "moral and not a financial" one.

Louise Mitchell said that a multimillion pound transformation of the venue is on track, and the time is now right to focus on detailed plans for the future - including what the name should be.

The name Colston does not reflect the Trust’s values as a progressive, forward-thinking and open arts organisation.

We want to look to the future and ensure the whole city is proud of its transformed concert hall and so, when we reopen the new building in 2020, it will be with a new name.

– Louise Mitchell, BMT

A new name has not been chosen yet, and the hall may be named after a sponsor of the venue.

"We will be consulting with audiences and other stakeholders during the closure period before announcing a new name in 2020.”

We want to use this as an opportunity to open discussions with the Bristol public about how Colston Hall can reflect the diversity and inclusivity of our city.

The Hall’s 150th anniversary this year is the perfect opportunity to begin these discussions.

– Marti Burgess, BMT trustee

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