635. Can a Museum Be the Conscience of a...

The world’s great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the norm. Now there’s a push to return these works to their rightful owners. Sounds simple, right? It's not. (Part 2 of an updated series originally published in 2023.) SOUR ... Show More

When he joined the Del Fuegos, his big brother’s band, all Warren knew how to play was a record player. Things went great for a while — and then it all fell apart. So how did he wind up writing definitive books on Springsteen and Tom Petty? If you'd like to see the video version ... Show More

How did a freshly looted Egyptian antiquity end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why did it take Kim Kardashian to crack the case? And how much of what you see in any museum is stolen? (Part 1 of “Stealing Art Is Easy. Giving It Back Is Hard,” first published in 2023.) SOURC ... Show More

In 2023, Anderson Cooper reported that a large number of antiquities in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection had come to the world-class museum by way of theft. Ancient art had been looted from Cambodian temples fifty years ago and the Cambodian Government wanted them back ... Show More

David Reid delves into the debate around the repatriation of problematic art and treasures. He visits one museum in the north-west of England attempting to decolonise its collection by returning thousands of items to the countries and communities they were taken from. In this epi ... Show More

In this episode, Violet Manners is joined by Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum and former MP, for a wide-ranging conversation about the role of museums in public life. They discuss how institutions like the V&A are evolving in the 21st century - from ad ... Show More

Many of us like to visit museums to see ancient artefacts in person – it's an exciting way to learn about the history and culture of different civilisations. But did you know that there are criminal networks which steal and trade these ancient objects? Neil and Beth discuss this ... Show More

Mary Beard argues that 21st Century disputes about what museums should own - or give back - are far from being a modern phenomenon. 'Almost as far back as you can go, there have been contests about what museums should display, and where objects of heritage properly belonged,' wri ... Show More

Who decides what belongs in a museum? And how do they decide what is museum-worthy? Meet Dr. Jocelyn Imani, the National Director of Black History and Culture at the Trust for Public Land. She plays a significant role in documenting the Black experience and ensuring African-Ameri ... Show More

A British university college and a French museum are returning looted artefacts from Africa during the colonial era. Campaigners say other institutions should do the same, but not everyone agrees. So, should Europe return its stolen artefacts?  Join host Mohammed Jamjoom. With gu ... Show More

Have you ever wondered how objects are moved to and from the Museum? Hear from Loans registrar Chris Stewart as he shares the intricate process of borrowing and lending cherished objects. Please share your comments and feedback about the podcast! You can talk to us on Twitter @br ... Show More