The Restitution Debate

 Returning Heritage - informing the restitution debate, a talk by Lewis McNaught

 

17th March 2026, at 7.30pm  

What does it mean to return heritage? And who has the right to decide where cultural objects belong?

On 17 March at 7.30pm, Lewis McNaught will explore one of the most urgent and complex questions facing museums, collectors and cultural institutions today: the restitution of artefacts taken during the colonial era.

Many objects currently housed in Western museums were acquired through force, coercion or deeply unequal systems of power. In recent years, high-profile cases; from the Benin Bronzes to the Parthenon Marbles, have brought renewed public attention to the question of ownership, accountability and justice.

This talk examines how established legal frameworks are gradually being challenged and, in some cases, superseded  by emerging policies grounded in moral and ethical responsibility. As governments and institutions reconsider long-held positions, the debate is shifting from “Can we return these objects?” to “Should we?”

Lewis McNaught will unpack the historical context behind these collections, the legal complexities involved in restitution, and the broader ethical implications for museums today. The evening promises to be a thoughtful and timely exploration of how societies reckon with the legacies of empire and what returning heritage might mean for the future.

Join us for what is sure to be a stimulating and important discussion.