Comments on Cultural Heritage in Danger: Speaking of partage….when’s the Met going to start...

Partage is not an ideal situation and comes from "...

2010-05-26T10:28:32.279-04:00

Partage is not an ideal situation and comes from "Western" desire for ownership of artifacts, as does Mr. De La Fe's desire for archaeological material to be sold on an open market. This creates a possibility of objects disappearing into the coffers of wealthy collectors. If it is in the storage room of a site museum, at least academics would have an opportunity to research the items for publishing and possible requests for loans for exhibitions. Besides, it is the decision of these museums and cultural ministries on whether or not they want to sell their collections.

I would agree with Senta that the Met should start organizing an excavation in Italy. This could include the possibility of hiring archaeologists who need jobs and organizing a future Met exhibition focused on the project.

But what you are describing is not partage, it is ...

2010-05-25T21:22:29.550-04:00

But what you are describing is not partage, it is a "loan" which is essentially a way for Italy to get free restoration. ("...necessary for their study and restoration.")

I think that partage is ideal. It provides the funds, manpower and expertise to get work done in the field and address at-risk sites while providing permanant material for the museum or institution that financed the work to display and/or trade or loan out to other institutions. Ideally, agreements can be put into place that extend loan priviledges to the sponsoring institution in the source country so that they can "borrow" whatever items leave the country. In addition, I would take it a step further and say that whatever material will never be displayed and has been studied should be sold on the open market to fund further research and field work.