George Soros’s Foundation Is Launching a $15 Million Initiative to Repatriate Cultural Objects to African Nations

Hungarian-born US investor and philanthropist George Soros’s Foundation is launching initiative to repatriate African cultural objects. It will support African organisations campaigning for the return of artefacts taken during the colonial era ( Taylor Dafoe, 'George Soros’s Foundation Is Launching a $15 Million Initiative to Repatriate Cultural Objects to African Nations', artnet News November 15, 2019).

The Open Society Foundations, an international grant-making organization founded by billionaire George Soros, has launched a four year, $15 million initiative to aid in restitution efforts. “The legacy of colonial violence has deep implications for the ways that racism and imbalances of power are perpetuated today,” Patrick Gaspard, the president of the organization, said in a statement. “This isn’t just about returning pieces of art, but about restoring the very essence of these cultures.” The Open Society’s initiative will support African lawyers, scholars, archivists, and grassroots organizations campaigning for the return of artifacts taken during the colonial era. It will also fund meetings between cultural leaders and work to promote partnerships between museums, governments, and other organizations.