The use and abuse of cultural heritage

I am presenting a paper at the conference Appropriating the Past: the uses and abuses of cultural heritage held by Durham University, in July. The three-day conference should appeal to scholars with an interest in the ethical principles and problems associated with the concept of cultural heritage.

The conference is part of a launch programme for the new Centre for the Ethics of Cultural Heritage

The centre will focus upon the ethical debates surrounding cultural heritage, in particular relations with indigenous peoples; professional standards and responsibilities; ethical codes; notions of value; concepts of stewardship and custodianship; the meaning and moral implications of ‘cultural heritage’; who ‘owns’ the past or the interpretation of it; roles and responsibilities of museums; the trade in antiquities; opportunities and problems associated with tourism; and the treatment of human remains (including repatriation).