#Restitutions: Museums in question

Faced with growing questions about the origin and ownership of works of art and cultural property, Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Director of the Institute for African Studies and Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, and Marie-Cécile Zinsou, art historian and President of the Zinsou Foundation, will discuss how to reconcile historical justice, the circulation of knowledge and the preservation of museum collections.

While many cultural institutions defend the idea of a universal heritage, accessible to all and guaranteeing the dissemination of knowledge, this universalist vision may today clash with the demands for recognition of colonial suffering, shared memory and cultural sovereignty of the peoples concerned.

This discussion will highlight the importance of dialogue between cultures as a possible path to reconciliation between these sometimes contradictory principles. It will address the ethical, philosophical and heritage issues of restitution, while emphasising the need for collective reflection on the conditions for the equitable sharing of world heritage.

During this inaugural session, speakers will question the role and evolution of museums as spaces of memory, heritage justice and intercultural encounter. The discussion will invite us to rethink the mission of museums in a more open, inclusive world that is more aware of its shared history.

At the intersection of arts and sciences, the programme ‘Arts - Worlds in Action, Worlds in Reflection’ aims to encourage collective reflection and invention. By creating opportunities for scientific research and artistic creation to meet, promoting cooperation between the humanities and social sciences and the arts, organising collaboration between these disciplines and artistic, cultural and heritage institutions, and building dialogue with society, this programme aims to enrich our understanding of many contemporary issues.

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