Exhibitions of Iranian historical relics in foreign museums are not aimed to earn revenue, but to promote Iran's image at international level as a country steeped in culture and civilization.
Elaborating on the policy behind mutual cultural and historical events, Jebreil Nokandeh, head of the National Museum of Iran, emphasized that the events are not meant to raise income out of public shows, Mehr News Agency reported.
"Featuring Iranian items in foreign museums, which is a rather new trend, directs the visitor's attention toward Iran's rich history and culture, besides providing material for archaeological research," Nokandeh said.
Such events have not had any financial benefit for the country because the revenue would go to the country hosting the event, he explained.
Income will only be meaningful if the event is not a bilateral agreement between the two sides, the official noted.
"If the country borrowing the relics does not intend to hold a similar exhibition in the target country, the former will directly pay a charge to the other side; the amount will be defined considering the number of relics and the length of the exhibition."
Collateral Benefits
Furthermore, he added, Iranian exhibitions in foreign countries in some cases might result in the identification of relics, accidentally acquired by the public, as it happened in the four-month show of Iranian artifacts in Bonn, Germany held in April 2017.
"After the expo was wrapped up, a German citizen returned an age-old dish to NMI, after six decades of being away from its home," the official said.
Citing other advantages of holding exhibitions in foreign countries, Nokandeh said, "It can help us prepare a more or less accurate list of Iranian-origin relics which have been distributed around the world through time."
The data can be collected using the catalogue presented by the host side, the official said.
"A number of relics reflecting the Iranian culture that were kept in Louvre were showcased in the exhibition in Louver Lens. The objects have now been added to the list of items so far detected as being kept in foreign museums."
Iran had close relations with Europe in the Qajar era (1785 to 1925) and a big share of Iranian objects kept in Louver were actually gifts of Qajarid men to European royals, according to Nokandeh.
