Maria Balshaw, director of Tate in London, will step down in spring 2026 after nearly a decade leading the institution. During her tenure, she oversaw major exhibitions including "Van Gogh and Britain," "Yoko Ono," and "Sargent and Fashion," and her final project will be a Tracey Emin survey at Tate Modern. Separately, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art announced it will return three Khmer Empire sculptures—Head of Harihara, The Goddess Uma, and Prajnaparamita—to Cambodia, citing evidence they were looted during the country's civil conflict. The US Senate also unanimously approved the HEAR Act of 2025 to help heirs reclaim art looted during the Holocaust.
These developments highlight ongoing shifts in institutional leadership and ethical stewardship. Balshaw's departure comes amid financial strain at Tate, including job cuts and staff walkouts, raising questions about the sustainability of major museums. The Smithsonian's repatriation of Khmer sculptures reflects a growing global movement to address colonial-era plunder and illicit trafficking, with the returns being the first under a 2022 Smithsonian-wide policy. The HEAR Act renewal underscores continued legislative efforts to address Holocaust-era art restitution, while the appointment of Kathryn Kanjo as director of UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum signals new leadership in a recently established institution.