The politics and ethics of restitution get a great deal of attention; the complex practicalities of successful restitution and reintegration of objects into the societies from which they were taken, much less. In the recent past, ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia, have secured the return of artefacts. In most cases, the return is a high-profile and domestically celebrated event. However, there is a wide range of ‘institutional readiness’ – appropriate organizational and physical structures – in place in these countries and other countries to reintegrate objects successfully. 

    This presentation will discuss ways that countries and institutions are confronting these issues and reintegrating heritage in positive, salient ways that inspire and educate local and global communities, generate new creative economies, and ultimately lead to museum innovation. 

    We will also consider the ongoing responsibilities of the Western museum community, specifically of institutions returning objects. Should the restituting party have ongoing financial responsibilities for the costs of stewardship—in other words, is there a role for reparations? 

     Christine Begley is a Senior Advisor at Huron|GG+A Global Philanthropy. A museum specialist in strategy and fundraising, she spent most of her career at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and most recently at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, where she developed major international initiatives.