The Cultural Diplomacy Study Group, fall 2026; session five.
Cultural relics, monuments, archaeological sites, and sacred places carry the histories and identities of civilizations. Yet during war and political upheaval, cultural heritage is often deliberately destroyed, looted, or trafficked—sometimes by terrorist and extremist groups seeking to erase cultural memory, undermine identity, or profit from the illicit trade in antiquities.
This session will explore the shared responsibility of museums, governments, law enforcement, and international institutions to protect cultural heritage. From establishing the provenance of museum collections to recovering stolen antiquities and returning them to their countries of origin, the conversation will examine how preservation intersects with questions of ownership, security, and diplomacy.
Drawing on recent U.S. efforts to recover and repatriate stolen cultural property, the discussion will ask: Can protecting—and returning—the physical evidence of our shared past become a powerful act of cultural diplomacy?
Guest Speakers:
To be announced.
Location: Hybrid — Harvard Kennedy School and Zoom
This program will be held in a hybrid format, with participation available in person at Harvard Kennedy School or virtually via Zoom.
In-person attendance requires a valid Harvard ID. All other participants are welcome to join virtually.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You will receive a confirmation once approved.
The Cultural Diplomacy Study Group is an initiative of the Cultural Diplomacy Project, an initiative under the auspices of Harvard Kennedy School’s Program on Diplomacy and Statecraft.
Founded by Ambassador Nicholas Burns, the Program on Diplomacy and Statecraft serves as a global hub for advancing the practice and study of diplomacy, negotiation, and statecraft. The Cultural Diplomacy Project examines the importance of music, art, and cultural heritage in modern diplomacy, convening practitioners, scholars, artists, policymakers, and leaders from around the world.