Returning Cultural Artifacts from Western Museums

in partnership with the will host Dr. Pierre Losson to discuss his book The Return of Cultural Heritage to Latin America: Nationalism, Policy, and Politics in Colombia, Mexico, and Peru .

How do cultural artifacts end up outside their country of origin? What are the different approaches that are being taken to repatriate historical treasures, and what barriers stand in the way of these efforts? What value do we give to objects of ancestral origin, and does it change with time?

Recently, pressure has been mounting over Western museums to return archaeological artifacts, artworks, and human remains acquired over the previous decades and centuries in conditions that are nowadays considered ethically questionable. In this presentation, we will discuss the legal, political, and ethical questions that drive this movement. Are Western museums at risk of being emptied of their precious collections and of losing their role as custodians of humanity's past?

Pierre Losson's research focuses on the return and restitution of cultural heritage objects as well as cultural policy in Latin America. After graduating in international relations from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques of Strasbourg (France), he completed an MA in Arts Administration from the University of Lyon (France), an MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Florida International University, and a PhD in political science from The Graduate Center, CUNY. He has held several positions in French cultural centers in Mexico City (Mexico) and Lima (Peru), where he lived for ten years in total. He currently lives in New York City and works at The City College of New York, CUNY. He has taught classes at Hunter College, Lehman College, and Yeshiva University. He has published peer-reviewed articles in scholarly publications such as the International Journal of Cultural Policy, the International Journal of Heritage Studies, and Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, and articles and op-eds in publications such as Le Monde and Hyperallergic. His book The Return of Cultural Heritage to Latin America: Nationalism, Policy, and Politics in Colombia, Mexico, and Peru was published by Routledge in 2022. Its Spanish translation El retorno del patrimonio cultural a América Latina. Nacionalismo, normas y política en Colombia, México y Perú was published by Fondo de Cultura Económica in 2024.

All of our events are free to the public. A $10 donation is suggested. However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

For more information contact Susan Healy at [email protected]

Host or Publisher Windham World Affairs Council and Latchis Theatre Spotlight Series