However, another key factor is that repatriation is not currently recognised as an expected part of museum practice. That is why I am now calling for the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme to require museums to have a Repatriation Policy.
Since 1988, the scheme has been the UK industry standard for museums and galleries. Today, over 1700 museums of all sizes in the UK are Accredited.
In January 2025 the director of museums and cultural property at Arts Council England (ACE), Emmie Kell, announced a review of the scheme. As reported in the Museums Journal: “The arm’s-length body has secured significant investment from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to improve the usability and accessibility of Accreditation and ensure the scheme better reflects the sector’s priorities.”
Previous reviews of the scheme have focused on making it more user-friendly for applicants, whilst also placing greater emphasis on community engagement and public benefit.
The Arts Council of England’s Restitution and Repatriation: A Practical Guide for Museums in England recommends that: “All English museums, whether or not they have received a claim for restitution or repatriation, should be managing their collections and be aware that a claim for restitution may be a possibility.
“How to respond to a restitution case should be explained in a museum’s Collections Development Policy, which should be kept up to date and reviewed on a regular basis.”
