Lisa Nandy, the newly appointed UK culture secretary, has set her sights on addressing the long-standing issue of repatriating cultural artifacts held by British institutions. Criticizing the previous Conservative government’s handling of the country’s cultural sector, she described their approach as one marked by “violent indifference” and “vandalism.”
A report by The Guardian revealed that Nandy is prioritizing the return of antiquities and cultural heritage currently housed in British institutions, including the British Museum. Former museum chancellor George Osborne has reportedly reached out to Nandy to initiate discussions on the contentious issue of repatriation, which remains divisive among many in the cultural and political spheres.
While local museums in the UK can make independent decisions on repatriation, national institutions are bound by more stringent regulations.
Nandy has expressed her desire for a “consistent” governmental approach, suggesting that all UK institutions should adopt the same stance on repatriation.
This raises the inevitable question: What will happen to the Parthenon Marbles? Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously indicated he was open to negotiating a deal to return the marbles to Greece. However, The Guardian recently reported that he has no plans to alter the law that currently prevents their permanent return.
Last year, Osborne suggested a potential arrangement that would allow the Parthenon Marbles to be exhibited in Greece in exchange for Greek artifacts to be displayed at the British Museum. Now, with Nandy’s push for repatriation reform, British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan may face renewed calls to reconsider the marbles’ fate.
Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, who in 2022 advocated for revisiting UK laws that block repatriation, told The Art Newspaper: “It is very encouraging to learn that the culture secretary is supportive of repatriation reform” and is considering changes to the legal framework that restricts museums from returning artifacts.