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culturalpolicycommittee

Feb 28

In addition to submitting testimony regarding Chile's request for the Renewal of Import Restrictions, the Committee and Global Heritage Alliance also submitted testimony to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee on the Request for Renewal of Import Restrictions from the Kingdom of Morocco.

Morocco's push to renew its MOU with the U.S. under the Cultural Property Implementation Act (CPIA) raises concerns due to the lack of evidence supporting a looting crisis. The broad import restrictions imposed on Moroccan artifacts harm U.S. businesses, collectors, and institutions dealing with legally sourced items, with no proof of widespread illicit trafficking. Morocco has neglected key self-help measures, such as regulating metal detecting, which could effectively address looting issues. These actions conflict with CPIA’s intent, which requires evidence-based policies and targeted restrictions. It’s crucial to reassess the MOU renewal to ensure a more transparent, balanced approach that considers the interests of all stakeholders involved.

Read the full testimony by clicking the link in our bio.

#cpac #culturalproperty #morocco #culturalpropertylaw #collecting

culturalpolicycommittee

Feb 27

Earlier this year, the Committee for Cultural Policy submitted written testimony to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee on the Request for Renewal of Import Restrictions from the Republic of Chile.

Chile is seeking to renew its cultural property agreement with the U.S., but the case is weak—there’s no proof of a looting crisis or significant U.S. market for Chilean antiquities. Despite archaeological projects spurred by infrastructure and tourism, Chile’s heritage protection remains inadequate, with conflicts over indigenous rights and destruction of key sites like the Atacama geoglyphs. Experts argue that rather than focusing on import restrictions, the U.S. should support local efforts in Chile to protect and preserve its cultural heritage. The real issue lies not in a thriving black market but in a lack of action on the ground.

Read the Committee's full testimony by clicking the link in our bio.

#chile #cpac #culturalproperty #culturalpropertylaw

culturalpolicycommittee

Feb 9

culturalpolicycommittee

Jan 31

In 2025, the U.S. is imposing sweeping restrictions on the import of cultural property from thirty-four countries, blocking access to art, antiques, and collectibles that have been in legal circulation for decades. These restrictions, tied to diplomatic agreements known as MOUs, cover everything from coins and pottery to religious artifacts, and even prevent diaspora communities from reclaiming their own cultural heritage. The government claims these measures protect against looting, but critics argue they’re overly broad, impacting legal collectors, museums, and communities without evidence of looting or trafficking.

Countries like Morocco and Vietnam are seeking even broader restrictions, raising concerns about authoritarian regimes using these agreements to bolster their own political agendas, while harming cultural exchange and legal collecting in the U.S.

The Cultural Property Advisory Committee will soon vote on new five-year extensions for several countries, continuing a pattern of agreements that critics say disregard U.S. heritage laws and favor diplomatic goals over true preservation.

With such policies growing in scope and frequency, it’s time to ask: Are these actions protecting cultural heritage, or are they silencing the voices of communities who need access to their own history?

Click the link in our bio to learn more.

Photo: Daughter of Niobe shrinking in terror of Artemis. Uffizi Gallery - Sala della Niobe. Florence, Italy. Photo by Petar Milošević, 26 October 2014, CCA-SA 4.0 International license.

culturalpolicycommittee

Jan 31

The National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) is challenging traditional ideas of art authenticity with a groundbreaking exhibition opening in March 2025. It will feature 19th-century plaster casts alongside cutting-edge 3D-printed replicas of Michelangelo’s iconic works, like David and Medici Madonna. These reproductions aim to make globally scattered masterpieces more accessible while sparking a conversation about what it means to truly experience art. The exhibition, curated by Matthias Wivel, explores whether perfect replicas can enhance our connection to history or if they strip away emotional resonance. It also raises fascinating questions about the role of destruction in art, using the example of Infant John the Baptist, which was damaged during the Spanish Civil War and now carries its scars as part of its story. Through this innovative show, SMK invites visitors to rethink the role of authenticity, context, and technology in understanding art.

Read more by clicking the link in our bio.

Photo: Head of David, Plaster cast after Michelangelo Buonarroti. Original made in 1501-1503, cast in 1890. Photo: SMK, National Gallery of Denmark.

#culturalproperty #culturalpropertynewsletter #david #reproductions @nationalgalleryofdenmark

culturalpolicycommittee

Jan 26

In 2019, President Trump proposed purchasing Greenland, citing strategic and economic reasons—but the U.S. fascination with the island goes far beyond politics. The idea is rooted in a blend of Viking mythology, historical myths, and outright frauds, particularly the false connection between Norse exploration and the discovery of America. While Greenland has been a part of Denmark since 1721, its growing push for independence highlights the complexities of Greenlandic-American relations. The story behind the U.S. interest in Greenland is far more tangled than it first appears—full of myths, hoaxes, and the reshaping of cultural identities. It's a history worth revisiting in 2025.

Click the link in our bio to read more.

Photo: Christian Krohg (1852-1925), Leiv Eirikson discovering America, 1893, Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo, Norway, public domain.

culturalpolicycommittee

Jan 26

What happens when efforts to return colonial-era artifacts are met with resistance? In a surprising twist, modern Iatmul communities in Papua New Guinea have refused to take back ritual skulls collected by missionaries decades ago. These intricately crafted skulls, once central to spiritual ceremonies along the Sepik River, became prized collectibles in Europe during the colonial period. Now, the Missiemuseum in the Netherlands is trying to return five of these artifacts, but the Iatmul people have declined, citing fears of curses and the loss of their cultural significance. Want to know why these sacred objects no longer hold the same power for the Iatmul? Read more by clicking the link in our bio.

Photo: Papuan men examining images of the objects in the Missiemuseum. Photo by Bruno Waterfield for the Missenmuseum.

culturalpolicycommittee

Jan 21

Last month, longtime member of the Committee for Cultural Policy’s Board of Directors, John Gilmore Ford, passed away at his home in Baltimore, Maryland.
John served as a trustee of the Freer-Sackler Museum and the Walters Art Museum, where he became a Trustee Emeritus. His leadership on the South Asian and Himalayan Acquisitions Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and as chairman of the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust exemplified his commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Under his guidance, the Trust undertook dozens of restoration projects, safeguarding Nepal’s architectural treasures.

John and Berthe’s gifts to the Walters Art Museum, including over 200 sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects, formed the foundation of the museum’s South Asian and Himalayan art galleries. Their legacy lives on at the museum in the Arts of Asia: Art of India, Nepal, and Tibet – The John and Berthe Ford Gallery, a testament to their dedication to making art accessible to all.

Read more about John's remarkable contributions by clicking the link in our bio.

culturalpolicycommittee

Jan 21

Curious as to how the new Trump presidency will affect the world of collecting? Guest contributor and collector Peter K. Tompa speculates on the possible impacts, covering potential new tariffs, proposed anti-money laundering regulations, and the influence of archaeology advocacy groups. Read more by clicking the link in our bio.

culturalpolicycommittee

Dec 31

Part IV of our Cultural Cookbook series to ring in the New Year features recipes from the grandmother of CCP’s Executive Director, Kate Fitz Gibbon. Hazel and Kate’s grandfather Clarence “Pop” Williams were born just after the turn of the century in Berkeley, California. Hazel worked as a telephone operator at the local newspaper, the Berkeley Daily Gazette. Kate shares a collection of her recipes, and those belonging to her grandmother’s friends, including Mrs. Gaebler’s Apple Sauce Cake, Miss Lombard’s Gingerbread, and Hazel’s Sour Milk Biscuits. Read more and get the recipes by clicking the link in our bio.

culturalpolicycommittee

Dec 31

Part III of our Cultural Cookbook features recipes from Papua New Guinea, Thailand, and the Philippines: Sago Grub Sate with Peanut Sauce; Flying Fox (or chicken!) with Prunes and Cream Sauce; Bananas on Fire, and more. Click the link in our bio to learn about these traditional recipes and try them yourself (with the exception of Paua Sup)!

culturalpolicycommittee

Dec 31

Part two of our cultural cookbook features the Afghan dastarkhan, a word used to describe the multiple dishes and table setting for an enormous meal served to family and guests on special occasions. Not sure what to cook for New Years? Try Qaubili or Kabuli Pilau, a classic rice meal considered by many to be Afghanistan’s national dish. For dessert, why not try the delicious pastry Gosh i Fil (Elephant’s Ear)? Learn more about the Afghan dastarkhan and these recipes by clicking the link in our bio.

#culturalpolicy #afghanistan #cooking

culturalpolicycommittee

Dec 30

Our end-of-year gift to you is a compilation of unusual recipes to read… and to cook, collected from our own travels and those of friends. The first batch features recipes from roving writers, from Sir Thomas Herbert's travels in Persia to Viaggi de Pietro Della Valle's time in India. Read more by clicking the link in our bio.

#culturalproperty #culturalpropertynewsletter

culturalpolicycommittee

Dec 23

2023 and 2024 saw our most productive work in the realm of cultural heritage protection and policy advocacy. Our research, comprehensive reports, and unique voice helped to shape national conversations around cultural property law and preservation of heritage.

Key highlights include:

-In 2023, we launched an in-depth analysis of proposed revisions to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. NAGPRA: Major Changes Proposed for 2023, laid the foundation for our continued work into 2024 with The New NAGPRA: ‘Traditional Knowledge’ In, Artifacts Out broke down 350 pages of federal regulation that sped up repatriations and gave tribes authority over exhibitions and museum narratives – overruling Congress’ legislative intent.

-In coordination with Global Heritage Alliance, we produced 15 major reports as testimony to the U.S. State Department, analyzing import restrictions and heritage agreements that have a profound impact on the global art market and cultural exchange.

-Our publications in 2023-2024 spanned over 100 articles that dissected controversies in the art and cultural sectors.

-We defended the rights of museums and collectors against unjust seizures and misleading legal narratives.

Read our full 2023-2024 report by clicking the link in our bio.

#culturalpropertynewsletter #culturalproperty #culturalpropertylaw

culturalpolicycommittee

Nov 24

Last month, the Equiano Project hosted the event "Reckoning with History: A Critical Discussion on the Reparations Debate" at the UK House of Lords. The discussion largely focused on the complex legacy of colonialism and the topic of
reparations, particularly focusing on the Caribbean and Britain. Find our summary of the event at the link in our bio.

Photo: Statue of Richard I, The Houses of Parliament, House of Lords, photo Olga Gillies, 8 October 2024, courtesy the author.

#reparations #culturalproperty #equianoproject #uk

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