Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds new home for Marvel's Black Panther costumes

A museum in Bury St Edmunds has, for the next few months, become the new home to costumes from one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Moyse's Hall has today launched its new display of costumes from the Marvel superhero film Black Panther - a continuation of the Power of Stories exhibition seen in Ipswich's Christ Church Mansion last year.

The exhibition showcases the costume worn by the late Chadwick Boseman who played Black Panther; the tribal outfit of warrior Okoye; and a third costume of Shuri.

There will also be a range of African objects on display, as well as black and white photos by Jamaican-born photographer, Neil Kenlock.

Imani Sorhaindo, community curator and consultant, worked on the Christ Church Mansion exhibition and has been involved in the move to Bury.

She said: "The Power of Stories exhibition is giving a voice to groups and communities who don't normally get recognised or have a voice. Therefore, marginalised groups and communities will be asked to contribute some of their artefacts on loan as part of that narrative.

"It's about putting black history into the context of world history which everybody needs to know about. Black history is not just for the black community.

"We are really committed to re-writing history with the truth and not any bias. Museums have often had that historical bias and so we've been working very closely with them so that their venues and spaces are equal and accessible to all," she added.

Between June and October 2021 more than 23,700 people visited Power of Stories in Ipswich and now that legacy is able to continue thanks to Marvel extending the costume loans.

Elma Glasglow, co-director of partner organisation, Aspire Black Suffolk CIC, said: "It is important for minority communities to have access and are able to see something more relevant to them and their culture. But not just people from the African-Caribbean community, other diverse communities as well who really want to see something that speaks to them.

"Traditional museum exhibitions have their place, but small museums in small towns can progress. They can develop in terms of diversity and they can embrace new ways of exhibiting.

"These costumes are not on display anywhere else in the UK and we're so proud that the Power of Stories legacy created in Ipswich has led to this incredible on-going work."

Cllr Jo Rayner, cabinet member for leisure and culture at West Suffolk Council said: "We are both delighted and excited to work with Aspire Black Suffolk to bring the successful Power of Stories exhibition to West Suffolk. While the film costumes and comic book artwork will no doubt appeal with their stories of fiction and real life influence, this exhibition is also about some of the stories not yet heard.

"This represents a fantastic opportunity to work with people within our communities, to seek out the stories of peoples’ lives that are so central to how we learn and understand from each other and from the past."

An African Queens Throughout History talk to be given by Imani is set to take place in the coming weeks.

Schools are also invited to visit the exhibition.

Power of Stories will be on show until April 28, when it will be moved to the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket from June to September and then on to Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh from October to January 2023.

For more information about the exhibition, see here.