The debate on the restitution of objects from the colonial period continues. Germany, too, want to rise to the challenge. There is a common solution? Two of the most important actors to work together.
The Berlin-based Prussian cultural heritage Foundation and the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, want to cooperate in the return of colonial art in the future close. “The Situation of the two countries is comparable,” said Foundation President Hermann Parzinger, after a Meeting with the French colleagues Stéphane Martin, in Paris, towards the German press Agency.
Hermann Parzinger and his French counterpart Stéphane Martin
“It is better to develop a common Position, in which the experience of the Museum experts will be taken into account,” said the Director of the Musée Quai Branly, Stéphane Martin. Both France and Germany push ahead with the return of the objects from the colonial period. The kick-off of the new debate had given a report of the Senegalese Economists Felwine Sarr and the French art historian Bénédicte Savoy. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron had asked the two scientists to create a restitution report. In it, you recommend for the immediate and unconditional return of all the objects that were captured in military actions. Macron, and the corresponding artifacts in the countries of origin to be transferred, and in particular to Benin.
Wake-up call for Germany
The report, which was released in November of 2018, was a Wake-up call for Germany, which has positioned itself in this question, as yet, less clear. To March 2019, the Federal government and the Länder want to submit a joint opinion on the processing of colonial heritage, such as the Hamburg Senator for Culture Carsten Brosda announced.
The restitution report of Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy ensures that, even in Germany, eddy
Also the state Minister for Culture Monika Grütters continued the German museums to examine their holdings on objects from colonial times, and to clarify the further handling of it. In the case of Collection from the colonial context of the Federal collections according to the Museum of both objects, the in fact, from colonial times, but also objects reflecting in a colonial mentality.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”, commented in mid-December, the state Minister for Culture Monika Grütters and the Minister of state for international cultural relations and education policy, Michelle Müntefering (SPD). “From museums and collections, we expect the willingness to be open to the question of a return of cultural goods”, they wrote in a commentary for the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” – and warned of a delay tactic.
Hermann Parzinger in the debate is a Chance for the Humboldt-Forum to be opened in the fall of 2019 in Berlin, the need to respond to “the increasing relevance of the German colonial history in our Public”.
so/pg (dpa)