
Colonial Looting, Museums, and Restitution
About the Event:
Throughout history, museums and other cultural institutions have too often acquired their artifacts through conquest, imperialism and colonization. Today, these institutions are re-evaluating this “colonial looting” and facing increasing calls to return these artifacts to their rightful owners, aiming to rectify historical injustices and foster cultural healing. Join Chicago Humanities for a presentation on these stolen artifacts and the importance of returning cultural items to their rightful homes with Patty Gerstenblith, Director of DePaul University’s Center for Art, Museums and Cultural Heritage Law. Following her presentation, Gerstenblith will be joined by esteemed experts Victoria Reed, Curator for Provenance at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Shannon O’Loughlin from the Association of American Indian Affairs, and Dr. Helen Robbins, Repatriation Director at the Field Museum for a conversation about the ethical, legal, and cultural challenges and opportunities museums face when restoring cultural heritage.
- Chicago Humanities is pleased to partner with the Seminary Co-op Bookstores, a Chicago not-for-profit bookstore whose mission is bookselling. Pre-order your copy of Cultural Objects and Reparative Justice through the CHF Box Office and save 20% while supporting local, independent bookselling. Add books to your cart when adding tickets. Your receipt will contain a book voucher, which you will show to the bookseller on-site to pick up your book(s).
- Please visit our FAQ for more information about ticketing, books, accessibility options, and other event logistics.

Shannon O’Loughlin
Shannon O’Loughlin is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Chief Executive and Attorney for the Associatio...

Dr. Helen Robbins
Helen A. Robbins is the Repatriation Director at the Field Museum where she coordinates domestic and international re...

Patty Gerstenblith
Patty Gerstenblith is Distinguished Research Professor of Law at DePaul University and Director of its Center for Art...

Victoria Reed
Victoria Reed has been conducting provenance research at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, since 2003. She is responsi...
[Event tile image description: The event image at the top left of the event page is a photograph of old artifact of a black jug and a brown jug. Image courtesy of Trnava University on Unsplash.]










