Recent Posts
It’s no easy matter resolving the current ethical debate over the retention and exhibition of human remains. But one public collection is asking visitors to cast their vote
Latest Restitution News
Recent articles added to our comprehensive resource list of restitution news from around the world
AUG 2025
United States
The FBI has returned a manuscript signed by Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes in 1527, stolen in the 1980s or 1990s, to the government of Mexico
AUG 2025
United States
The 1st cent Roman marble head seized from New York gallery Safani in 2018 has been returned to the Italian government along with other looted artefacts
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
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From the Editor
The latest analysis and reports on cultural restitution news
It’s no easy matter resolving the current ethical debate over the retention and exhibition of human remains. But one public collection is asking visitors to cast their vote
“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
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)
