On the April 9, 2025, the international Provenance Research Day will take place for the seventh time. More than 100 cultural institutions in eight countries have already registered their participation (as of March 28, 2025).
This year, museums, libraries and other collection-keeping institutions are once again offering numerous face-to-face and online events. This globally unique event collaboration between researchers from a wide range of facilities and institutions reflects the long-standing successful efforts of the Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung e.V. to achieve transparency and networking within a still young research community which aims to shed light on the origins of cultural objects (not only) in public institutions.
The wide-ranging programme, which currently features over 120 events, is primarily dedicated to topics relating to cultural assets seized as a result of Nazi persecution, cultural assets from colonial contexts and objects expropriated in the Soviet Occupation Zone/GDR, but also to the history of objects and collections in general.
You can find an overview and information about all activities surrounding Provenance Research Day 2025 on the website of the Arbeitskreis https://www.arbeitskreis-provenienzforschung.org/veranstaltungen/. If you have any questions regarding the program of individual participants, please contact the institution in question directly.
About the Provenance Research Day
Since 2019, the action day has taken place once a year on the second Wednesday in April. It is of great importance for provenance research because it shows the social and scientific relevance of our work and at the same time gives a broad audience insights into the methods of a field of research that usually takes place behind the scenes of the areas of curatorial work that are visible to visitors. The day points to the value of precisely that research work that must remain the basis for future decisions. The precarious employment situation of many provenance researchers remains alarming, especially given the political debates that focus on the object as a cultural heritage of remembrance.
About the Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung
The Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung e.V. is an internationally active network of scientists and experts who have existed since 2000 and are involved in researching the origin and unlawful confiscation of cultural assets. The working group has been organized as a registered association since 2014. The central tasks include the technical support of provenance research in all its fields of activity and the promotion of interdisciplinary exchange. The working group now has over 600 members from eleven countries: https://www.arbeitskreis-provenienzforschung.org/.
Registration still possible until 9 April 2025!
All institutions conducting provenance research in the broadest sense and provenance researchers worldwide are invited to participate.
Please also share our Call for Participation on LinkedIn.
PRESS enquiries for interviews should be addressed directly to the Board of the Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung e.V.: vorstand@arbeitskreis-provenienzforschung.org