Politics and Poetics of Museums: Repatriation and Decolonisation at the British Museum
This Anthropology study day will focus on a critical examination of the politics and debates surrounding the decolonisation and repatriation of ethnographic collections at the British Museum. We will explore the changing role of museums, from 19thC collecting practices of indigenous material to consider how this cultural heritage is reframed and represented by and for whom today.
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This course will focus on a critical examination of the role of museums and ethnographic collections. In the morning session, students will be introduced to contemporary theoretical discussions and debates concerning ethnographic museum collections in the 21st century and the preservation of cultural heritage. In the afternoon there will be a tutor-guided tour around the relevant British Museum collections.
What will we cover?
Some of the themes we question relate to the changing role in the acquisition of indigenous material from the 19thC. In contrast to the past, how are these cultural objects represented by and for whom today?
In our post-colonial society, what about the topical question of repatriation and returning all ‘museum cultural property’ back to their host culture?
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- understand the broader debate on decolonising museum displays and collections - assess the different voices in the debate and their perspectives - speak about these complex matters with nuance and confidence.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The class is introductory and requires and assumes no prior knowledge or particular skills. As with many of our history and politics courses, however, a good grasp of English, curiosity and the willingness to think through different perspectives will help you enjoy the course. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through tutor presentation, a British Museum visit, Q & A and discussion. To conclude our discussion, students will have the opportunity to participate in a class role play to explore how an object departs from an African village, and with intervention from art dealers, anthropologists and curators, the object ends up in the British Museum ethnographic gallery. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs. You may wish to bring pen and paper, or digital equaivalents, for note-taking. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You may be interested in the following anthropology courses, taught by the same tutor:
HA007: Anthropology of space, place and the cultural landscape HA035 : Doing anthropology: ethnographic research methods
Read more about social anthropology in Yasmin's blog, here:
Yasmin holds a BA (Hons) in Social Anthropology and an MA History of South Asian Art and Architecture from SOAS, University of London. She has worked as an educator and assistant curator at the V&A museum. Her interest in the social use of space, indigenous art and vernacular architecture was consolidated through fieldwork awards in Tamil Nadu, and latterly she commenced a research degree in the Anthropology of Architecture at Oxford Brookes and UCL. Yasmin has taught at Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, UAL, Pondicherry University and CEPT, Ahmedabad, India. At City Lit, she teaches Introductory and contemporary anthropology, anthropology of space, visual and material culture, ethnographic methods, and decolonisation of museum collections. She contributes to City Lit’s South Asian Heritage Month and Mental Wealth Festival, was a voluntary ethnographic researcher at UCL (MAL) and an educator at the ‘Another India’ exhibition, Cambridge Anthropology Museum. Yasmin is a research consultant and educator who delivers lectures and creative workshops on request. Read more on the City Lit blog: What is Anthropology and what does it entail? | City Lit
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/politics-and-poetics-of-museums-repatriation-and-decolonisation-at-the-british-museum3051703Politics and Poetics of Museums: Repatriation and Decolonisation at the British Museumhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/h/a/ha034_decolonisation.jpg6969GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Anthropology/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Anthropology/Anthropology/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Summer courses in humanities/Courses/vm/Issues Facing Our World22851177119511961357217001228511771195165313457<p>This Anthropology study day will focus on a critical examination of the politics and debates surrounding the decolonisation and repatriation of ethnographic collections at the British Museum. We will explore the changing role of museums, from 19thC collecting practices of indigenous material to consider how this cultural heritage is reframed and represented by and for whom today.</p>002736878Politics and Poetics of Museums: Repatriation and Decolonisation at the British Museum6969https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/h/a/ha034_decolonisation_1.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-06-27T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHA0346969Politics and Poetics of Museums: Repatriation and Decolonisation at the British Museum554569Yasmin Halespolitics-and-poetics-of-museums-repatriation-and-decolonisation-at-the-british-museum/ha034-2526<p>This Anthropology study day will focus on a critical examination of the politics and debates surrounding the decolonisation and repatriation of ethnographic collections at the British Museum. We will explore the changing role of museums, from 19thC collecting practices of indigenous material to consider how this cultural heritage is reframed and represented by and for whom today.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-27 00:00:00<p>This course will focus on a critical examination of the role of museums and ethnographic collections. In the morning session, students will be introduced to contemporary theoretical discussions and debates concerning ethnographic museum collections in the 21st century and the preservation of cultural heritage. In the afternoon there will be a tutor-guided tour around the relevant British Museum collections.</p><p>This Anthropology study day will focus on a critical examination of the politics and debates surrounding the decolonisation and repatriation of ethnographic collections at the British Museum. We will explore the changing role of museums, from 19thC collecting practices of indigenous material to consider how this cultural heritage is reframed and represented by and for whom today.</p>Some of the themes we question relate to the changing role in the acquisition of indigenous material from the 19thC. In contrast to the past, how are these cultural objects represented by and for whom today? <br><br>In our post-colonial society, what about the topical question of repatriation and returning all ‘museum cultural property’ back to their host culture?- understand the broader debate on decolonising museum displays and collections<br>- assess the different voices in the debate and their perspectives<br>- speak about these complex matters with nuance and confidence.The class is introductory and requires and assumes no prior knowledge or particular skills. As with many of our history and politics courses, however, a good grasp of English, curiosity and the willingness to think through different perspectives will help you enjoy the course. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.<p>You will be taught through tutor presentation, a British Museum visit, Q & A and discussion. To conclude our discussion, students will have the opportunity to participate in a class role play to explore how an object departs from an African village, and with intervention from art dealers, anthropologists and curators, the object ends up in the British Museum ethnographic gallery. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.</p>There are no additional costs. You may wish to bring pen and paper, or digital equaivalents, for note-taking. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.<p>You may be interested in the following anthropology courses, taught by the same tutor:</p><p>HA007: Anthropology of space, place and the cultural landscape<br>HA035 : Doing anthropology: ethnographic research methods</p><p> </p><p>Read more about social anthropology in Yasmin's blog, here: </p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/what-is-anthropology-and-what-does-it-entail" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What is Anthropology and what does it entail? | City Lit</a></p>AnthropologyAnthropologyvirtual556945HA034NONESat27/06/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetYasmin HalesAvailable courses2026-06-27T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Culture, history & humanities6969Politics and Poetics of Museums: Repatriation and Decolonisation at the British Museumpolitics-and-poetics-of-museums-repatriation-and-decolonisation-at-the-british-museum/ha034-2526<p>This Anthropology study day will focus on a critical examination of the politics and debates surrounding the decolonisation and repatriation of ethnographic collections at the British Museum. We will explore the changing role of museums, from 19thC collecting practices of indigenous material to consider how this cultural heritage is reframed and represented by and for whom today.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-27 00:00:00<p>This course will focus on a critical examination of the role of museums and ethnographic collections. In the morning session, students will be introduced to contemporary theoretical discussions and debates concerning ethnographic museum collections in the 21st century and the preservation of cultural heritage. In the afternoon there will be a tutor-guided tour around the relevant British Museum collections.</p><p>This Anthropology study day will focus on a critical examination of the politics and debates surrounding the decolonisation and repatriation of ethnographic collections at the British Museum. We will explore the changing role of museums, from 19thC collecting practices of indigenous material to consider how this cultural heritage is reframed and represented by and for whom today.</p>Some of the themes we question relate to the changing role in the acquisition of indigenous material from the 19thC. In contrast to the past, how are these cultural objects represented by and for whom today? <br><br>In our post-colonial society, what about the topical question of repatriation and returning all ‘museum cultural property’ back to their host culture?- understand the broader debate on decolonising museum displays and collections<br>- assess the different voices in the debate and their perspectives<br>- speak about these complex matters with nuance and confidence.The class is introductory and requires and assumes no prior knowledge or particular skills. As with many of our history and politics courses, however, a good grasp of English, curiosity and the willingness to think through different perspectives will help you enjoy the course. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.<p>You will be taught through tutor presentation, a British Museum visit, Q &amp; A and discussion. To conclude our discussion, students will have the opportunity to participate in a class role play to explore how an object departs from an African village, and with intervention from art dealers, anthropologists and curators, the object ends up in the British Museum ethnographic gallery. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.</p>There are no additional costs. You may wish to bring pen and paper, or digital equaivalents, for note-taking. Please also note that the course will entail a free visit to a museum.<p>You may be interested in the following anthropology courses, taught by the same tutor:</p><p>HA007: Anthropology of space, place and the cultural landscape<br>HA035 : Doing anthropology: ethnographic research methods</p><p> </p><p>Read more about social anthropology in Yasmin's blog, here: </p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/what-is-anthropology-and-what-does-it-entail" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What is Anthropology and what does it entail? | City Lit</a></p>AnthropologyAnthropologyconfigurable
11961195Anthropologyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/anthropology/anthropology-11/2/285/1177/1195/1196/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Anthropology/Anthropology
