With Richard Kurin | Hosted by Deborah Lehr

May 15, 2025
Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities, Episode #3

In episode three of Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities — a Tholos Talks series exploring the global repercussions of the antiquities trade — Deborah welcomes Richard Kurin, an American cultural anthropologist, museum official, and author, to discuss the evolving role of museums in preserving heritage, combating the illicit trade in antiquities, and serving as vital sources of public knowledge. It highlights the responsibilities of museums and cultural institutions as stewards of cultural artifacts, the creation of the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative, and the Smithsonian’s recent efforts to save heritage at risk, recover looted items, and address illicit trafficking. Drawing on Richard’s extensive experience, the episode offers key insights into the preservation of endangered cultural treasures and the importance of international collaboration in protecting heritage at risk.

Listen on: YouTube, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

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This episode is brought to you by the Basilinna Institute.

About Our Guest

As a distinguished cultural anthropologist and leader in the field of cultural heritage, Richard Kurin brings decades of global experience focused on preserving endangered cultural treasures and fostering international collaboration to protect heritage at risk. He began his Smithsonian Institution career during America’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976 and currently serves as a distinguished scholar and ambassador-at-large, leading strategic initiatives, institutional representation, and philanthropic efforts. Previously, he served for over a decade as Under Secretary, overseeing all of the Smithsonian’s national museums, scientific research centers, and educational programs, playing major roles in the development, renovation, and transformation of most of the museums. Earlier, he directed the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, producing the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the renowned Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, as well as major events for national museum openings, presidential inaugurals, and the Olympics. In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Kurin founded the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative and has since worked to protect cultural heritage threatened by disasters and conflict, including efforts in Iraq, Syria, Mali, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. He leads the Smithsonian’s partnership with FEMA on the Heritage Emergency National Task Force and helped draft an international treaty to safeguard living cultural heritage, now ratified by 180 countries. Kurin has collaborated with multiple U.S. government departments and agencies and served as liaison to the White House Historical Association, the U.S. President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, the intergovernmental Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee, and the Federal Interagency Panel for World Heritage. An anthropologist with a doctorate from the University of Chicago, he is the author of seven books, including The Smithsonian’s History of America in 101 Objects, has taught at Johns Hopkins SAIS, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Resilience Center.

About Our Host

Deborah Lehr is the CEO of Basilinna, a strategic advisory firm, and founder and Chair of the Antiquities Coalition. She has spoken globally on issues related to cultural heritage. Previously...read the full bio here.

About the Show

Tholos Talks, a series following the spirit of the tholos circle, where Ancient Greek intellectuals gathered to debate the issues of the day. Through deep insight and thought-provoking dialogue, we offer the tools to decode complexity and illuminate the path forward.

Tholos Talks is a Basilinna Institute produced podcast.

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