With increasing scrutiny on the display of what many consider to be ‘stolen’ artefacts, this is a timely topic that invites much debate. There are a number of interesting ways of exploring the contextualisation and decontextualization of these material objects.

In this blog, I’d like to list possible avenues of research that you might find to be interesting additions to your projects. All the resources that I list are easily accessible online.

The Parthenon Sculptures: The Trustees’ Statement, The British Museum

‘Hundreds Attend Guerrilla, Activist-Led Tour of Looted Artifacts at the British Museum’, Hyperallergic

Code of Ethics for Museums, Museums Association

Return of Cultural Objects: Principles and Processes, National Museum of World Cultures, The Netherlands

The Story of the Benin Bronzes, The Richard Lander Society

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, National Park Service, USA

The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage, Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy

‘How Did Nesmin Get Here?’, RISD Museum

Statement from the Benin Dialogue Group, National Museum of World Cultures, The Netherlands

3D printing is helping museums in repatriation and decolonisation efforts’, The Conversation

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but an indication of the huge range of resources available to you. I hope you find plenty of inspiration for your project.