Antiquities Coalition

ICYMI: The Government of Cambodia's ongoing quest to find its stolen artifacts and recover their heritage hits a major milestone. This June, the National Museum's latest exhibition showcases nearly 100 looted Cambodian artifacts, now returned home. https://lnkd.in/eFS9rSj8 Head of the Culture, Education, and Tourist Relations at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, Chhort Bunthong spoke to the exhibition's mission: "It is great for [our people] to learn about our ancient culture but also to understand why our recent history aided tomb raiders and robbed us of our heritage." Even as Cambodia's people celebrate returned heritage, they remember past injustices and the ongoing threats posed by cultural racketeering. Check out our blog to learn more about looting and repatriation in Cambodia: https://lnkd.in/eQcdqusX

Policy Update: Newly launched Qingdao Recommendations call for international collaboration to return artifacts lost or obtained through unjust means under colonialism. The Qingdao Recommendations emerged from the latest convening of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA). This policy encourages inclusive international dialogue and will guide decolonization efforts in China and abroad. The AC applauds China's commitment to address colonial injustices through international collaboration. Read more about the policy: https://lnkd.in/e4f9gQNT We hope the countries of Asia and the world will carry this momentum forward by developing proactive policy to prevent future cultural crimes associated with the looting and trafficking of art and antiquities. In her 2023 publication, AC Founder and Chairman Deborah Lehr discusses China's potential as a world leader in fight to stop the illicit trade of artifacts: https://ow.ly/nzrX50SsqTm The AC's statements at the 2024 China-Europe-America (CEA) Museums Cooperation Dialogue further reflect on the importance of international cooperation in the museum sector. Find out more: https://ow.ly/CRPY50SsqTn

If left unregulated, the American art market could be an unknowing accessory to crimes in money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions evasion. As a member of our Financial Crimes Task Force Sara Yood joined us to expose these threats and put forth concrete recommendations to mitigate #ArtCrime. This week, we congratulate Sara on her appointment as the Head of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee. https://lnkd.in/efQi9j4K Read all of our "Recommendations for Combating Financial Crimes" here: https://lnkd.in/dyfJm_2

Last month, the Antiquities Coalition's Founder and Chairman Deborah Lehr and Executive Director Tess Davis joined world leaders to discuss #creativity at the annual China-Europe-America (CEA) Museums Cooperation Initiative. The AC highlighted creative exhibitions, collaborative repatriations, and elevated best practices as the future of museums. Read our latest blog to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gBxzGnjg

Art crime on the home front— Last summer, a British Museum employee smuggled nearly 2,000 objects out of museum storerooms: https://lnkd.in/eJt9MkNX Now, Texas law enforcement reminds us that the illicit antiquities trade is as prevalent in the U.S. as it is abroad. Recalling a 2001 case, where one man stole 105 antiquities valued at $266,200, this Texas Observer article warns, "the Global North can claim no moral high ground regarding antiquities thefts: Objects are vulnerable abroad as they are in their countries of origin." Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ei2TbWKe

U.S.-Cambodia partnerships continue to yield results in recovering lost cultural heritage. In recent months, the Met returned 16 Cambodian artifacts, and the Denver Art Museum agreed to return 11 others connected to smuggler Douglas Latchford. Today, the fight continues. In a Politico interview, Executive Director Tess Davis agrees that American museums must continue investigating the dark pasts of their Asian collections. Read on: https://ow.ly/cM5c50Sk3ih

Young patrons have the art world's attention. How can future collectors invest in the art market ethically? Director of Programs, Helena Arose, recommends aspiring young collectors to: - Support museums, auction houses, and galleries that uphold the highest standards of ethics and transparency - Advocate for regulation of the American art market to safeguard against risk - Ensure acquisitions are not just legal, but ethical - Champion contemporary local artists and buy art that is meant for sale while also supporting the community Access the full article and further resources about responsible trade practices, here: https://ow.ly/xWff50Sk2g4

Last week, the Mission of Norway to the UN, the Mission of France to the UN, the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, UNESCO, and The Soufan Center (TSC) convened an expert dialogue in New York City to discuss “Investigating and Prosecuting the Destruction, Looting and Illicit Trade of Cultural Property Linked to Terrorism.” This closed-door policy event featured speakers from the organizing groups as well as the Penn Cultural Heritage Center, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Carabinieri TPC, the University of Kufa, and the Clooney Foundation for Justice. As an organization which has long advocated for accountability for crimes against culture, the AC was pleased to be in attendance at this important discussion and to hear speakers highlight the need for prosecution for these serious crimes that threaten our shared heritage, national economies, and global security. Key takeaways included: 🏺 Cultural heritage crimes are not victimless, and have documented links to funding terrorism and organized crime. However, they are often high-reward and low risk, making them a lucrative and convenient option for bad actors. 💵 Those engaged in these crimes see seizures, forfeitures, and repatriations as just the cost of doing business. In one anecdote provided, public legal trouble improved a traffickers business, as buyers knew their goods were authentic. ⚖ Only convictions—including of market actors who provide demand—will change things. Art dealers, auction houses, and collectors who knowingly engage in illegal transactions must be also held accountable in order to fight cultural racketeering. The AC thanks the organizers and speakers for this important discussion. Check out a report from the Soufan Center on this topic: https://lnkd.in/enn7qDYD And the CFJ's 2022 Report on the Need for Prosecuting Participants in the Illegal Antiquities Trade: https://lnkd.in/e_gSkSFn

ICYMI: Check out a new and important project from Chasing Aphrodite, the Museum of Looted Antiquities, working to collect and display data on all antiquities repatriated globally since 1950. This data gives insight into the illicit trade of antiquities, so that we can develop solutions to better #CombatLooting. Explore the website: https://mola.omeka.net/

According to Ukraine's Ministry of Culture, over 480,000 pieces of art have been looted by Russia in the past two years. As Russia continues to attack Ukraine by land, sea, and air, we must remember President Volodymyr Zelensky’s warning that Vladimir Putin is aiming to “erase Ukraine, its history and its peoples”— including his country’s rich cultural heritage. Russia is seeking to achieve this goal through both the intentional, targeted destruction of sites and collections as well as pillage and theft. The latter has the added advantage of providing a potentially lucrative source of financing. Learn more about how Russia is stealing art and how Ukrainians are fighting to get it back: https://lnkd.in/eZBVvDyg