Colombian Museum Professionals Demand Return of Works Removed from Museo Nacional

On October 15, the national government took away more than 30 items from three different rooms at the Museo Nacional de Colombia, including the «Memoria y nación» room. In reaction, museum experts issued an open letter addressed to the president and the minister of Culture. They contended that museums ought to safeguard and showcase a variety of histories rather than enforce specific ideologies. While recognizing the necessity for change, they cautioned against practices that exclude. The letter highlighted the importance of feminist movements, sexual and gender diversity, and political violence in the context of national history. It referenced ICOM and UNESCO's advocacy for museum autonomy and called for the return of the removed pieces, asserting that eliminating difficult narratives distorts historical comprehension. Photo by Tomás Osorio.