Stewards Beyond Ownership: A Continuing Partnership Between the Cleveland Museum of Art and the National Museum of Cambodia

In 2015, the Cleveland Museum of Art transferred a monumental stone sculpture of Hanuman originally from Cambodia’s Koh Ker temple complex to the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. This event led to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing long-term cultural cooperation through joint projects, technical assistance, and professional exchange. Renewed in 2020, the MoU has supported landmark loans, a major conservation initiative, and collections management, particularly following the return of repatriated objects to Cambodia. The partnership demonstrates how stewardship can extend beyond ownership through sustained collaboration, capacity building, and mutual learning.