In a world that is becoming increasingly globalized, the role of universal museums and the issue of contested artifacts have come to the forefront. Recent revelations about potential thefts of stored objects at the British Museum have sparked a renewed call for the dismantling of Western collections by critics of universal museums. For example, the director of the Association of Greek Archaeologists has called for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, taken by Lord Elgin in the early 1800s, back to Athens. The Global Times, a state-run Chinese newspaper, has demanded the return of 23,000 Chinese artifacts.
These criticisms align with broader contemporary trends of nationalism, populism, deglobalization, and nativism that we see around the world. However, it is important to note that while every museum should be able to account for the provenance and purpose of its collections, this should not result in the negation of museums’ role as spaces to explore, understand, and admire foreign cultures and ethnic differences. Museums play a vital role in fostering multiculturalism, exchange, and cultural appreciation.
Encyclopedic or universal museums, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, aim to chart the arc of human history through material culture. Given that empire was the natural state of governance for humankind for thousands of years, museums necessarily display the products of imperialism. It is essential to recognize that all cultures are involved with one another, making them hybrid, heterogeneous, differentiated, and unmonolithic.
While museums showcase the interplay of global design brought about by imperial politics, it is important to acknowledge that the European empires of the late 19th century were highly rapacious, militaristic, and racist enterprises. They contributed to a hierarchy of racist ethnography that we are still grappling with today. Much cultural material was looted, stolen, or obtained under pressure by European agents across the Global South.
The issue of repatriation has gained momentum in recent years. Several countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have announced plans to return colonial-era artifacts to their countries of origin. In the UK, regional and university museums have repatriated items to various indigenous communities. However, institutions like the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum are currently prevented by legislation from removing objects from their collections.
To address these challenges, the Victoria and Albert Museum has developed Renewable Cultural Partnerships, focusing on long-term loans of artifacts to source nations. This approach is accompanied by programs of conservation, curatorial exchange, knowledge-sharing, and partnership. By working closely with countries and institutions, museums can negotiate the difficulties of the colonial past and ensure a more equitable distribution of collections.
Museums cannot absolve the crimes of colonialism, but they should also not be used as pawns in contemporary geopolitical objectives. Research is crucial in understanding the provenance of individual artifacts, as not everything acquired during the colonial period was looted or stolen. Moreover, it is important to appreciate the agency of the maker and their contribution to global civilization.
Looking forward, it is essential to think more creatively about innovative sharing practices, with the help of digital technologies and global freight transport. A fairer international exchange of cultural property can be encouraged through long-term loans, deposits, sales, and donations between institutions.
In conclusion, the role of museums is to provide a civic space that fosters understanding, challenges prescribed identities, and moves beyond nationalist ideologies. While there is much work to be done in terms of equitable distribution and curatorial practices, a political assault on the idea of universal museums is not the answer. Instead, a collaborative approach that acknowledges historical complexities and promotes cultural appreciation is necessary in building a more inclusive future.
