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In Cultural property advice

  • Ethical contexts
  • Legal contexts
    • International cultural property legislation
    • UK cultural property legislation
    • Protection of exhibits on loan from abroad
  • Provenance
    • Commercial databases of stolen cultural property
    • Non-commercial databases of stolen cultural property
    • Spectrum procedures relevant to provenance
  • Acquiring cultural property
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  • Restitution and repatriation
  • Communications
  • Spoliation research by UK museums for 1933-45
  • Spoliation reports from UK museums
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    ResourcesCultural property advice Restitution and repatriation

    Restitution and repatriation

    Heritage organisations seek to ensure that they hold collections documentation demonstrating that objects in their collections have good provenance and have not, at some point in their history, been acquired as a result of spoliation and/or illicit trade. Occasionally, either as the result of an organisation’s research or as the result of a claim made by an individual or community, objects in public collections are returned to previous owners. Restitution is the process by which cultural objects are returned to an individual or a community. Repatriation is the process by which cultural objects are returned to a nation or state at the request of a government.

    Repatriation and deaccessioning from the University collections

    Resource

    This resource looks at how the University of Aberdeen deals with requests for the return of objects from its museum collections.

    Part of: Restitution and repatriation

    Procedures for claims for the return of cultural objects

    Resource

    This resource gives the procedure that the Oxford University Museums and Libraries follow when considering a claim for the return of cultural objects.

    Part of: Restitution and repatriation

    Researching the validity of a claim checklist

    Resource

    This checklist will help you to clarify the identity and status of claimants in the event of a claim for restitution or repatriation made against objects in your collection.

    Part of: Restitution and repatriation

    Recording a claim for restitution or repatriation - template

    Resource

    This template can be used by cultural heritage organisations to record a claim for restitution or repatriation made against an object in their collection.

    Part of: Restitution and repatriation

    Researching and processing a restitution or repatriation claim

    Resource

    If a claim for restitution or repatriation is received by a cultural heritage organisation, a transparent and open process for assessing the claim should be followed. This resource outlines possible steps in the process.

    Part of: Restitution and repatriation

    Code of ethics for museums

    Resource

    The Museum Association Code of Ethics defines the ethical principles which guide museum practice and underpin policy and practice regarding the development of museum collections.

    Part of: Acquisition and accessioning, Deaccessioning and disposal, Restitution and repatriation
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