Hallo Michelle,
If I have understood your request correctly, it is not about
repatriation of objects, but about a temporary loan to the community of
origin for an unspecified rite. Actually, it seems to me that you do not
need a particularly fixed policy for this case, because it can be
treated as any other temporary loan (to other museums or the previous
owner/collector): It must be ensured that the object (in the same
condition as before) afterwards reaches your museum again and, should it
be restored after the rite, that the costs of restoration are borne by
the borrower. It also needs to be clarified what the security of the
object looks like during the absence of the museum, who covers the cost
of the courier trips, etc.
The main problem seems to be that your contractor is not a museum bound
to museum principles. Using a museum object for a rite, means: it can be
treated, during the rite, not as a museum object. It may be touched with
fingers (while you use gloves), it gets contact with smoke and other
stuff avoided by your museum. It may be carried around, kissed or
sprinckled with holy liquids etc.
On the other hand, for an object of ethnic context, it is just the "use
in real life" which makes it authentic. An object made for the tourist
market (or for museums...) will never reach this level of authenticity.
Therefore, maybe, this loan could enhance your object with a higher
grade of authenticity.
Who is the borrower? A private person? The community of origin? The
borrower must be able to bear any recourse claims that may arise. In
some cases, he should also have been commissioned or elected by the
community and can prove this. Just an assertion to represent the
interests of a community is not enough, especially not in the
repatriation of objects.
Moreover, we always regard communities of origin as a single entity. But
this is a romantic auxiliary construction which does not take into
account the western influences. Some native communities for example are
spread today over several continents. There are members of these
communities who do not identify with the old faith, there are those who
honor the old culture and others who do not know it anymore. As in real
life, not every "representative" is recognized by every member of a
community.
Hope this helps
Christian
Am 01.01.2019 um 02:31 schrieb Michelle Gallagher Roberts:
>
> Hello All,
>
> Does anyone have a policy they would be willing to share regarding
> museumslending accessioned objects back to the community of origin for
> use? This would must likely be for ceremonial and/or ritual use.
>
> Any articles or papers on this topic would also be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
> Michelle
>
>
> Michelle Gallagher Roberts
> Deputy Director
> New Mexico Museum of Art
>
>
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