Recent Posts
“Would be nice to have a more frank discussion about how objects are collected for the Museum. Saying ‘Donated’ is not enough”
Latest Restitution News
Recent articles added to our comprehensive resource list of restitution news from around the world
AUG 2025
United States
The Association of American Museum Directors and other museums are lobbying against the extension of a bi-partisan bill to help Holocaust victims recover works of art stolen by the Nazis
JULY 2025
France
The French government has introduced a bill which, if passed by the senate in September, would accelerate the repatriation of looted cultural artefacts
JULY 2025
India
A Mumbai-based Indian conglomerate has stepped up to purchase from Sotheby's the jewel collection linked to the Buddha's remains known as the Piprahwa gems
JULY 2025
Italy
A Roman mosaic panel depicting an erotic theme has been returned to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii following its theft by a Nazi captain during WWII
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From the Editor
The latest analysis and reports on cultural restitution news
“Would be nice to have a more frank discussion about how objects are collected for the Museum. Saying ‘Donated’ is not enough”
Last week, a delegation of Naga people signed a declaration that will lead to the return of 41 Naga ancestral remains currently held in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford
Village leaders at San Benito Poité in southern Belize, formerly British Honduras, are claiming that an important collection of artefacts removed from the ancient city of Pusilha is not the lawful property of the British Museum
About Cultural Restitution
Cultural restitution is the process by which a moveable object of historic or cultural value is returned to its country of origin after being seized, looted or acquired against the will of its owners. But it's more than just an act of return. It represents a growing recognition of the need to correct injustices committed in the past.
Today, as society’s values and the role of museums change, the legitimacy and ownership of these objects – as well as those thought to be procured legally – are coming under a spotlight. As complicated and sensitive as this debate may be, there’s no halting the growing debate between museums and communities of origin to find solutions that build new bridges of friendship and cooperation. This involves a new approach to restitution built on transparency and fairness - engaging with source communities and ensuring their voice is heard.
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Mapping the location of cultural restitutions
Our extensive Global Archive provides invaluable links to many other restitutions and other restitution news taking place around the world - organised by country.
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A Museum Perspective
"While the motivation behind the acquisition of ethnological material can appear strange today, it reflected curiosity about the wider world and a desire to represent diverse cultures. However, the European bias and power imbalances that often characterised this collecting have left a complex and sensitive legacy for us to address today."
Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive National Museums NI (April 2025)
