Art historian Bénédicte Savoy will occupy the prestigious Louvre Chair in 2026, according to information confirmed by the museum to The New York Times. The appointment marks a highly symbolic choice that is likely to fuel controversy given Savoy's prominent role in debates over cultural restitution.
Savoy will succeed philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne, who held the position in 2024, and Glenn Lowry, director of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), who will serve in 2025. The Louvre Chair was established in 2009 as an academic position without administrative responsibilities, designed to provide an international figure with an influential intellectual platform to advance reflection on museums and their collections through a series of lectures.
The nomination of Savoy is particularly significant due to her controversial work on cultural restitution. In 2018, she co-authored a report with Felwine Sarr commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron on the restitution of African cultural heritage, following his 2017 speech in Ouagadougou. This groundbreaking document, the first of its kind in France, opened a public and political debate by highlighting that 85 to 90 percent of major African artworks are located outside the continent.
The report faced severe criticism from museum professionals and cultural institutions. Stéphane Martin, former president of the Musée du Quai Branly, notably described it as a "cry of hatred against the concept of museums." Despite the controversy, the report has significantly influenced discussions about cultural heritage and ownership rights across Europe and beyond.
Savoy brings impressive academic credentials to the position. A former student of the École Normale Supérieure, she holds advanced degrees in German studies and is a specialist in cultural transfers between nations. Her scholarly achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize in 2016 and the European Essay Prize in 2025 for her work "Who Does Beauty Belong To?" She has served on the Louvre's scientific council since 2015, demonstrating her long-standing connection to the institution.
During her tenure as chair holder, Savoy plans to present a series of lectures focused on contemporary issues surrounding ownership, provenance, and restitution of artworks. While the precise program has not yet been announced, all indications suggest she will pay particular attention to restitution processes and the complex ethical questions they raise. Her lectures are expected to address the ongoing global movement toward returning cultural artifacts to their countries of origin, a topic that continues to generate intense debate within the international museum community.
The appointment reflects the Louvre's willingness to engage with challenging contemporary issues in the art world, even those that may critique traditional museum practices. Savoy's platform will provide her with significant influence to shape discussions about cultural heritage, colonial legacies, and the future of museum collections in an increasingly interconnected and ethically conscious world.
