Colonialism's Legacy: Rethinking Art Repatriation Beyond Return

The article critiques the 'universal museum' concept used to resist repatriation, tracing its roots to colonial ideology. In 2002, 18 major museums (Louvre, Berlin State Museums) signed a declaration against restitution, arguing objects acquired under past conditions should stay. Despite criticism, this thinking persists in UK museums. The 2022 Charities Act could ease repatriation by allowing deaccession for 'compelling moral obligation', but the UK government delayed it in October 2022. Glasgow City Council has returned items to India, Nigeria, and Lakota communities. However, institutions like the British Museum and V&A remain exempt due to the 1963 British Museum Act and 1983 National Heritage Act. The V&A is an 'exempt charity'; British Museum trustees are PM-appointed. The article argues repatriation alone is insufficient; broader restitution must dismantle colonial narratives. Examples of restitutive practice include the Ziibiwing Center (Michigan), Palestinian Museum (Birzeit), and Nambya community museum (Zimbabwe). The pushback against decolonisation is strong, but justice must exceed mere return.