Noémie Étienne on Restitution Debates in Switzerland

Our colleague Noémie Étienne was recently featured in the Swiss newspaper Le Courrier in a wide-ranging interview on the newly established national commission for cultural heritage with a “problematic past.”

In conversation with legal scholar Marc-André Renold, she discusses Switzerland’s evolving approach to restitution – including both Nazi-looted art and objects acquired in colonial contexts. The interview highlights the complexity of restitution processes, emphasizing that each case requires careful dialogue and context-sensitive solutions.

Noémie also reflects on the broader implications of what has been termed “heritage diplomacy,” stressing the importance of collaboration with source communities and the need to question entrenched assumptions within European institutions. Rather than viewing restitution as a loss, the discussion frames it as an opportunity to rethink museum practices, access, and responsibility.

🔗 Read the full article (in French)