Recent Posts
Explaining why a looted artefact should be returned to its country or community of origin can sometimes be straightforward. But explaining how is altogether different
Latest Restitution News
Recent articles added to our comprehensive resource list of restitution news from around the world
MAY 2025
United States
Eight antiquities, including a golden mask from the Moche civilization, have been returned by the Manhattan District Attorney's office to Peruvian authorities
MAY 2025
United States
Following a three-year investigation, 25 ancient Egyptian artefacts were returned by New York District Attorney's Office to Egypt's consulate in New York
MAY 2025
Canada
Canada's Indigenous Peoples hope new Pope Leo XIV will continue the reconciliation work started by Pope Francis and return colonial-era artefacts in the Vatican Museum
MAY 2025
India
Sotheby's in Hong Kong have postponed an auction of jewels associated with Buddha's remains following demands from India's government to halt the sale
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From the Editor
The latest analysis and reports on cultural restitution news
Explaining why a looted artefact should be returned to its country or community of origin can sometimes be straightforward. But explaining how is altogether different
A unique shell necklace believed to originate from the Bass Strait islands has been returned by The Hunterian collection to representatives from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) who travelled to Glasgow to carry it home
Laying Ancestors to Rest pulls no punches. The recommendations made in a new policy brief published by the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Afrikan-Reparations (APPG-AR) include making the sale of human remains illegal and putting an end to the public display of ancestral remains
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)
