Forms of Reparations: The Museum and Restorative Justice

Pressure is mounting for museums to become self-critical about the ways in which they perpetuate institutional trauma on underserved communities. Activist groups and artist collectives, as well as intellectuals, scholars, and community members are demanding more tangible acts of restitution. But, how are the institutions themselves responding? Forms of Reparations: The Museum and Restorative Justice, is a symposium focusing on the present state of decolonization within museums, identifying and articulating the many subtle ways by which cultural institutions sustain white supremacy, imperialism, and exploitation. This symposium invites leading scholars, activists, and artists to present lectures, workshops, and participate in panel discussions, addressing questions such as: What exactly does it mean to decolonize the museum? Has the recent currency awarded to the term decolonization taken away its original revolutionary intent? Can institutions and activists work together, or are they doomed to occupy opposing sides? Is it possible to genuinely decolonize museums?