The Antiquities Coalition | Pioneers Against Cultural Racketeering

Met Gala Looks vs. Loot

AC Compares Couture Outfits to Contested Artifacts in Campaign Urging Met to Reevaluate Role in Illicit Trade

The AC: The Met Museum Must Continue to Enhance Transparency of its Collection

Our Statement Following the News that Over 1000 Pieces in the Museum's Catalog Have Close Ties to Individuals Indicted or Convicted of Antiquities Crimes

Dynamite Doug Podcast Exposes Douglas Latchford with AC’s Tess Davis

A New Podcast Series Dives Into How Latchford Carried Out the Greatest Art Heist in History – the Looting of Cambodia’s Cultural Heritage

2022 Annual Report:

Read All About the AC in Our latest Annual Report

AC’s Deborah Lehr and Tess Davis:

On Anniversary of Ukraine Invasion, We Must Close Loopholes to Stop Russia from Exploiting the American Art Market

AC’s Tess Davis Calls for Increased Transparency from the Met in ProPublica

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (the Met) is a globally-recognized institution, yet it is facing rising questions on its practices for acquiring and displaying art and antiquities […]

In the News >

March 24, 2023
AC Joins Letter Calling on Secretary Yellen to Appoint Permanent FinCEN Leadership

Our Blog >

Fetch Tweets: Could not authenticate you. Code: 32

The Antiquities Coalition “provides a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships between governments and NGOs.”

— Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General

“The [Antiquities] Coalition, since its inception in March 2011, has shown great support and exerted utmost efforts to raise awareness and combat the looting and illegal trade of Egyptian antiquities and artifacts.”

— Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, former Minister of Antiquities

“The Antiquities Coalition, UNESCO, and other organizations have already sounded the alarm, and the U.S. should leverage their insights, networks, and activism to stem the flow of funds to ISIS from this trade.”

— Juan Zarate, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

“Egypt is working alongside regional and international partners such as the Antiquities Coalition to stem the flow of stolen antiquities.”

— Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Foreign Minister of Egypt

"The Antiquities Coalition [is] the foremost organization in the world for combating cultural racketeering."

— Hank Paulson, Chairman of Paulson Institute

Press Release
Metropolitan Museum of Art Signals Major Shift In its Approach to Contested Antiquities

Press Releases >

The Angkorian World: Major Volume about Southeast Asia’s Largest Ancient State Features Scholarship by AC’s Tess Davis

Angkor–the most powerful ancient state in Southeast Asia–persisted for more than six centuries and remains central to its Cambodian descendants. Its wealth of archaeology, culture, and economic history serves as […]

Resources >

Our Mission

To protect our shared heritage and global security, the Antiquities Coalition is leading the international campaign against cultural racketeering, the illicit trade in ancient art and artifacts.

We do this by developing and implementing innovative and practical solutions, focusing on where we can best add value:

Convening with Purpose

Championing Better
Law and Policy

Closing US Markets to Illicit Antiquities

Encouraging Responsible Markets and Trade Practices

Become Part of the Solution

We must act now or there won’t be a past left to protect. We have the opportunity to save the remains of our entire civilization. But we can’t do it without you.

How You Can Help >

Met Gala Looks vs. Loot

The AC: The Met Museum Must Continue to Enhance Transparency of its Collection

Dynamite Doug Podcast Exposes Douglas Latchford with AC’s Tess Davis

2022 Annual Report:

AC’s Deborah Lehr and Tess Davis:

AC’s Tess Davis Calls for Increased Transparency from the Met in ProPublica

AC Joins Letter Calling on Secretary Yellen to Appoint Permanent FinCEN Leadership

Metropolitan Museum of Art Signals Major Shift In its Approach to Contested Antiquities

The Angkorian World: Major Volume about Southeast Asia’s Largest Ancient State Features Scholarship by AC’s Tess Davis

Our Mission

To protect our shared heritage and global security, the Antiquities Coalition is leading the international campaign against cultural racketeering, the illicit trade in ancient art and artifacts.

Become Part of the Solution