Objects reinstalled at Museo Nacional de Colombia following removal by right-wing government
A Bogotá judge ordered that the 63 objects, many related to LGBTQ+ rights and feminism, be put back in their places in the museum’s permanent galleries
On 28 October, the Museo Nacional de Colombia reinstated 63 objects that had been removed by the right-wing government over claims of "political indoctrination". The move was prompted by a court order reversing the government's action on 15 October. Judge César Enrique Osorio Ortiz ruled that the cultural ministry and the museum must return the works to their original locations within 48 hours, which they complied with on 30 October.
The removal of the items was in response to a constitutional-rights case filed by cultural groups and political opponents who accused the government of censorship, particularly under far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella. The judge also ordered that no further works be removed based on their content or expressed views. Among the returned pieces were a pride flag, a bullet-pen from the 2016 peace agreement, and an International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women poster.
The government's decision sparked protests outside the museum and a joint statement from six museums expressing concern and calling for the protection of their autonomy. The International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art also took note of the incident, describing it as an authoritarian move that spreads fear.
The court ruled that the artefacts had been taken down without proper curatorial justification, violating constitutional protection of cultural expressions. However, it did not rule out future changes to exhibitions, provided they are properly justified and not based on objections to the works' content.
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