Empire to commonwealth—a cultural dimension

Abstract

This article reviews the contribution of the Imperial Institute and the Commonwealth Institute to the cultural understanding of the Empire and Commonwealth. It traces the shift in the focus of the Imperial Institute from the triumphal display of the British Empire at the end of the 19th century to the gradual portrayal of the life of individual countries in the first part of the 20th century. A new Commonwealth emerged from the struggle of the colonies for freedom and democracy. As a result, the Commonwealth Institute replaced the Imperial Institute in 1962. Although funded by the British government, it became closely associated with the aspirations of the newly independent Commonwealth nations and became a major centre for them to share their new cultural dynamism. In 2004 the Trustees decided to fund a Centre for Commonwealth research and training in the University of Cambridge. As a result the Institute building closed and its future use remains uncertain.