The article previews the upcoming book "Towards the Ethical Art Museum" and outlines five key strategies for museums to become more ethical institutions. These include developing ethics codes in collaboration with advisory bodies like ICOM and the UK Museums Association, changing mindsets on restitution to focus on mutual benefit rather than loss, and addressing internal "employee activism" to build diverse and equitable workplaces.
This matters because museums face growing scrutiny over their ethical practices, from provenance and repatriation of Indigenous artifacts to internal staffing and governance issues. The article challenges Western museums to move beyond defensive positions on restitution and to adopt more collaborative, community-centered approaches, reflecting broader societal demands for decolonization and institutional accountability.