ISSN 1993-8616
2007 - number 3
A guided tour of museums
© The British Museum
Egyptian Sculpture Gallery
Who said that the museums were dusty places reserved for enlightened amateurs? Certainly not the millions of exhibition visitors, whose numbers increase each year. The passionate reactions to new projects launched by museums in Atlanta (USA), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Venice (Italy) also speak to the newsworthiness of this institution.
Confronted with the challenges of globalization, large museums seek to adapt by proposing their universal vocation. This argument is one that certain countries of the South—whose collections are often scattered abroad—have a hard time accepting. More
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“We mustn’t fixate on the property of works as an issue”
Neil MacGregor has headed the British Museum since 2002. In the midst of current controversy over accords signed between the United Arab Emirates and various American and European museums, he returns to the concept of the universal museum. More
Afghanistan’s Cultural Treasures Return from Exile
Housed for seven years in the Museum-in-Exile in Switzerland, the collection Afghan cultural artefacts has returned in its place of origin: the National Museum of Afghanistan. But efforts are still needed to return a museum plundered and devastated by war to its ancient glory. More
Samoa: Collections in exile, awaiting better times
While many museums in the South are demanding the return of pieces held by institutions in the North, the national museum of Samoa stands out as an exception. As long as conditions are not met to house its collections properly, this small establishment prefers to have its works safeguarded abroad. More
A Day at the Mali National Museum
Like many other African institutions, Mali’s National Museum is confronting the controversial issue of reclaiming works held in countries of the North. It has taken a wider view of the question, encompassing the fight against looting and illicit trafficking of cultural goods. More
A museum inspiring rapture of the deep
Gaze upon a sunken ship on the actual shipwreck site? The concept is in development. Several projects for underwater museums are likely to materialize in the next few years More
