News Art History Trip to the British Museum 31.01.2020

Sixth Form Art History students debated the question of aggressive imperial acquisition, restitution and the future of the Benin plaques through a tour of the British Museum from Alice Procter.

There has been a lot of press coverage this week over Art History degrees ‘decolonising the curriculum’ and the ongoing debate about the restitution of art acquired during the British Empire. Three years after the global A Level syllabus was introduced into schools, our Sixth Form students felt well prepared and confident to discuss the famous Benin Plaques and other works on their visit to the British Museum. With the encouragement of controversial guide Alice Procter, both Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth Art Historians explored the impact of location on meaning, and appreciated seeing such great art first hand.