Glasgow to return looted items to India, Nigeria and representatives of massacred Lakota people in South Dakota, USA heralding the largest-ever repatriation of cultural artefacts. Rebecca Atkinson writes in the Museum's Association that Glasgow City Council has voted to return a number of cultural artefacts from its museum collections.

This includes the repatriation of seven Indian antiquities, in a move which is the first of its kind from a UK museum. Six of the artefacts were stolen from Hindu temples and shrines during the 19th century, while the seventh was illegally purchased, sold and smuggled out of India. All seven items were subsequently gifted to the city’s museum collection.

The council has also agreed to return 17 bronze Benin artefacts to Nigeria, having established that the objects were taken from ancestral altars at the Royal Court of Benin during the British Punitive Expedition of 1897.

As well as the repatriation of 25 Lakota cultural items that were sold and donated to the city’s museum collection by George Crager in 1892. Some of these items were taken from the Wounded Knee Massacre site following the battle in December 1890, some were personal items belonging to named ancestors, and the remainder are ceremonial items, all of which represent the belief, history and values of the Oceti Sakowin.

“The return of these objects from Glasgow Life Museums’ collection to their rightful owners represents the largest-ever repatriation of cultural artefacts from a Scottish museum and is a significant moment for our city – specifically, the repatriation of seven Indian antiquities is the first of its kind to India from a UK museum,” said Duncan Dornan, the head of museums and collections at Glasgow Life.

“By addressing past wrongs, we believe these returns will, in a small way, help these descendant communities to heal some of the wounds represented by the wrongful removal of their cultural artefacts, and lead to the development of positive and constructive relationships between Glasgow and communities around the world.”

'Repatriation of objects is on the government’s agenda, says UK culture secretary', the headline of The Art Newspaper article by Gareth Harris.

The UK’s secretary of state for culture, Lisa Nandy, has said that the government is in discussions with national museums about the repatriation of certain objects.

Music to our ears! This also struck a chord with Tristram Hunt, Director of the V & A. Tristram urged the review of the UK museums deaccession act when he spoke in July 2022 whilst attending Cultural Diplomacy at Art for Tomorrow's panel which took place at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. To read more on what Tristram said then, follow the link here. 

Responding to news that ministers are now exploring the repatriation of precious objects, Hunt told The Art Newspaper: “It is very encouraging to learn that the culture secretary is supportive of repatriation reform and updating the legislation that prevents national museums from deaccessioning objects in their collection. We now look forward to active conversations on this with the ministerial team.”

More links to this story also in ARTnews and Museum + Heritage.