Personal profile

Research interests

Repatriation processes within UK museums can be intricate and time-consuming, especially when working with international claimants. Museums often face challenges due to a lack of understanding of community customs, leading to difficulties and frustrations for all parties involved.

 

To address these issues, I am undertaking a PhD in the History of Art to study and evaluate best practices for returning cultural heritage artefacts from UK museums to Indigenous communities. With the support of the University of Birmingham's Haywood Scholarship and the WM & BW Lloyd Charity, my research focuses on the repatriation methods of UK museums, specifically looking at culturally significant artefacts from Indigenous, First Nation, Native, Aboriginal, and Source communities globally.

 

There is a pressing need to re-evaluate the distribution of responsibilities in repatriation claims. Indigenous communities and their representatives often bear excessive pressure and responsibility in the process. Therefore, a reform in the system is necessary to offer tangible support for Indigenous claimants without institutions assuming a dominant role that undermines stakeholder autonomy. A comprehensive understanding of cultural nuances requires a deep appreciation of the intricate bond between humans and artefacts.

 

The goal of this research is to develop a framework of methods that will guide future approaches to repatriation in UK museums. This framework aims to prioritise the significance of artefacts to the respective stakeholder communities and the influence of Indigenous perspectives and methodologies on museum decolonisation.

 

Upon completion of my doctoral research, I plan to establish a consultancy specialising in repatriation services for international institutions and Indigenous communities interested in engaging with UK museum collections. This consultancy will aim to facilitate repatriation efforts, build partnerships, and serve as a mediator to support claimants and alleviate burdens. Additionally, I will use the insights from my PhD research to educate UK museum professionals on best practices for repatriation and restitution.

 

I am available to assist with those undertaking repatriation work and am open to collaborating on projects that promote more international repatriation initiatives. Feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss further.

Education/Academic qualification

Master of Arts, MA Art History and Museum Curating , University of Sussex

10 Sept 201918 Sept 2020

Award Date: 30 Sept 2020

Bachelor of Fine Art, The Challenge of Feminist Lesbian Art: An Analysis of why the Work of Harmony Hammond & Tee Corinne was Subversive of the Established Artist Conventions, University of Oxford

11 Oct 201422 Jun 2018

Award Date: 22 Jun 2018

Keywords

  • AM Museums (General). Collectors and collecting (General)
  • Museum
  • Repatriation
  • Decolonialism
  • Restitution

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