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French Lawmakers Pass Bill Simplifying Return of Colonial-era Art

People sit at a bistro, enjoying the sun in Paris, Thursday, April 9, 2026.(AP Photo/Michel Euler)
People sit at a bistro, enjoying the sun in Paris, Thursday, April 9, 2026.(AP Photo/Michel Euler)
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French Lawmakers Pass Bill Simplifying Return of Colonial-era Art

People sit at a bistro, enjoying the sun in Paris, Thursday, April 9, 2026.(AP Photo/Michel Euler)
People sit at a bistro, enjoying the sun in Paris, Thursday, April 9, 2026.(AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French lawmakers on Monday passed a bill to simplify the return of artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin, AFP reported.

France still has in its possession tens of thousands of artworks and other prized artefacts that it looted from its colonial empire.

The draft legislation to return them was unanimously approved by the lower house National Assembly late on Monday.

The upper house had unanimously passed the measure in January.

President Emmanuel Macron has made it a political promise to return the cultural items, and has gone further than his predecessors in admitting past French abuses in Africa.

Speaking on a visit to the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou shortly after taking office in 2017, Macron vowed that France would never again interfere in its former colonies and promised to facilitate the return of African cultural heritage within five years.

Designed to streamline the process, Monday's bill specifically targets property acquired between 1815 and 1972.

Former colonial powers in Europe have slowly been moving to send back some artworks obtained during their imperial conquests -- but France is hindered by its current legislation, which requires every item in the national collection to be voted on individually.

France has been flooded with restitution demands, including from Algeria, Mali and Benin.

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Culture

Saudi Heritage Commission Discovers Abbasid-Era Gold Jewelry in Qassim

The Saudi Heritage Commission logo
The Saudi Heritage Commission logo
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Saudi Heritage Commission Discovers Abbasid-Era Gold Jewelry in Qassim

The Saudi Heritage Commission logo
The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced the discovery of a collection of Abbasid-era gold jewelry at the archaeological site of Diriyyah in Qassim Region during the fourth season of excavation and survey work.

The discovery includes 100 gold pieces adorned with floral and geometric motifs, along with architectural remains from the Abbasid period, including stone foundations, mud walls, pottery, and metal tools.

The findings indicate human settlement dating back to the late third century AH and highlight the site’s historical importance along pilgrimage and trade routes.

The discovery reflects the Heritage Commission’s ongoing efforts to document and preserve the Kingdom’s archaeological heritage, supporting cultural development goals aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

Culture

Jeddah’s House of Islamic Arts Marks International Museum Day 2026

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)
The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)
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Jeddah’s House of Islamic Arts Marks International Museum Day 2026

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)
The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past.

The exhibition showcased aspects of traditional life and reflected the atmosphere of old homes through rare collectibles and personal items contributed by collectors and heritage enthusiasts from within the Kingdom and abroad, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Through several interactive stations, the exhibition highlighted social life inside traditional homes, featuring settings inspired by majlis gatherings, evening social events, home interiors, and offices, alongside collectibles, furniture, and memorabilia associated with daily life and social traditions of the past.

The exhibition included collectibles representing diverse cultures and artistic styles, featuring rare Arab and European pieces, vintage devices, classic furniture, paintings, antiques, and personal household items displayed by their owners as reflections of the memories of people and places.

The exhibition is part of the events celebrating International Museum Day 2026, which aim to highlight the role of museums in preserving heritage and promoting cultural dialogue through interactive experiences that connect generations with their history and shared memory.

Culture

Private Museums in Jazan Offer a Window into the Region's Cultural Past

A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA
A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA
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Private Museums in Jazan Offer a Window into the Region's Cultural Past

A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA
A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA

Private museums in Jazan Region are reintroducing local memory through a contemporary cultural vision by preserving collections and artifacts documenting features of old life and bringing details of the past closer to new generations while also enhancing tourist attraction and enriching visitors’ knowledge experience.

As the world celebrates International Museum Day, observed on May 18 each year, these museums emerge as cultural spaces combining documentation and exhibition, allowing visitors to move through different eras, from daily life tools that shaped the details of old homes to collections associated with agriculture, the sea, crafts, and travel, reaching heritage artifacts and coins that reveal the depth of the relationship between humans and their environment throughout the ages, SPA reported.

A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections, but also enhance awareness of local heritage and convey details of old life to new generations through methods that are closer and more interactive. They noted that the increasing presence of heritage enthusiasts and visitors has contributed to transforming the museum into a space for learning and discovering the history of the place through its authentic collections.

With growing national interest in preserving cultural heritage and enhancing the presence of licensed museums within the cultural landscape, these destinations have become part of the tourism and knowledge movement in Jazan Region, receiving history enthusiasts, researchers, students, and visitors as windows overlooking a history that is not read in books alone, but seen in objects and collections that remained witnesses to the life of humans and place.