Who Owns Antiquities?

Who owns antiquities? Join us for a discussion of one the major cultural issues of our time: the restitution of cultural artefacts.

Museums everywhere are currently reconsidering objects in their collections and, in many instances, are returning pieces to their countries of origin. What are the arguments for the return of cultural artefacts to their homelands as a way of doing justice for past wrongs, especially in the light of colonialism, slavery and racism?

The starting point for this wide-ranging discussion on the decolonising of museums and universities will be one of the world’s longest-standing cultural disputes: over the Parthenon Marbles, removed from the Acropolis in Athens by Lord Elgin’s men in the early 19th century and entrusted to the British Museum.

A new book by our visiting speaker, Alexander Herman, explains how the Parthenon Marbles became the cause célèbre of the larger dispute around cultural heritage and restitution now taking place, one that embroils museums, universities, governments and the public. His book, The Parthenon Marbles Dispute: Heritage, Law, Politics (Hart/ Bloomsbury, 2023) offers a detailed analysis of the case, investigating new ways to resolve this and the many similar disputes around the world.

He will be joined by Prof Christine Morris from the Classics Department, Trinity College Dublin, curator and art historian, Dr Éimear O’Connor, Director of Collections and Access at the National Museum of Ireland, and the discussion will be chaired by Dr Emily Mark-FitzGerald, from the School of Art History and Cultural Policy, University College Dublin.

Please register here

Please indicate if you have any access requirements, such as ISL/English interpreting, so that we can facilitate you in attending this event. Contact: cuypersm@tcd.ie