On Tuesday, 4 October, 6 pm, IEG staff member Bernhard Gibibl will take part in a panel discussion organised by the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen and the Arbeitskreis Kolonialgeschichte Mannheim. The focus will be on different positions on how to deal with the colonial past. How should cultural objects from former colonies that are kept in the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums be dealt with? What can the museums do, what can the city of Mannheim do? What controversies exist? A panel of experts from the fields of museums and research as well as Lord Mayor Dr. Peter Kurz will address these and other questions. The event will take place in the Anna-Reiß-Saal in Museum Weltkulturen D5. Admission is free. Since the beginning of the 20th century in particular, the City of Mannheim has purchased or taken over cultural objects from all over the world for its museum. Among them were also those from colonies that merchants, soldiers, explorers and missionaries had appropriated under questionable conditions. For decades, the peoples who were colonised at the time have been demanding the return of particularly significant cultural assets. For the affected communities, it is about the re-appropriation of their cultural identity and culture of memory. The panel discussion is dedicated to dealing with this heavy historical burden and international challenge.