As I have previously mentioned, novel ideas about potential ‘Tools’ in the Mediation of ‘Cultural Heritage Disputes’ are occurring to me fast, as I read about the Repatriation of Cultural Treasures.
So, one more idea before I go offline again!
Today, I have been reading about the plunder and destruction of Cultural Treasures excavated in Afghanistan.
‘The Kabul Museum covered about 50,000 years of history and was one of the most important museums in Central Asia. Over twenty years it lost three-quarters of its collections. Its Begram ivory galleries have been lost. … It appears most of the panels were smuggled out to London, New York and Tokyo. … ‘ (‘The Return of Cultural Treasures’, 3rd Edition (2007), by Jeanette Greenfield, p.272).
This triggered an idea about the ‘ad hoc’ creation through ‘Mediation’, of a ‘Cultural Heritage Trust’, to own and hold collections of Cultural Treasures that are at risk of plunder and destruction, for the benefit of both:
(i) the people of the source country; and
(ii) ‘universally’ – i.e. for all Mankind.
This would ensure preservation, academic and scientific research, and ‘accessibility’ through ‘loans’ (possibly linked to ‘cultural exchanges’) and travelling public ‘exhibitions’.
A collection held by such a Trust would of course also have a ‘safe haven’ in the event of armed conflict in the source country.
Legally, the artefacts would be owned by the Trustees, which would include Museum Trustees from the source country.
Perhaps such a legal entity could have some kind of ‘ad hoc’ designated UNESCO status?
Later in the summer I will be reading about Intellectual Property and Cultural Heritage, and will also think about whether such a Trust entity could also be used to create IPR, e.g. by licensing images i.e. ‘photographs’ for production on postcards for sale in Museums, in order to generate revenue for the public benefit of the people of the source country, e.g. by using that money to build a medical facility/hospital.
See also:
· UNESCO strengthens action to safeguard cultural heritage under attack: https://lnkd.in/eE-CxPgC
· Stolen History: looting and illicit trade by Neil Brodie: https://lnkd.in/eQcbRYS7
· my previous post – ‘Challenging conventional wisdom about the past – How far back in time does Antiquity actually go?’: https://lnkd.in/e3R4g_n7