Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and Smithsonian Institution launch German-American exchange programme on provenance research
Press release from 10/18/2016
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) and the Smithsonian Institution (SI, Washington, USA), two of the world's largest museum complexes and research institutions, are launching a project to systematically network German and American provenance researchers. The three-year "German-American Provenance Exchange Programme for Museum Professionals (PREP)" is the first project that aims to establish such a transatlantic network. Interested parties can apply from today.
PREP aims to make provenance research in both countries more efficient and successful in the future and to anchor the topic even more firmly in the public consciousness. American and German researchers often work on similar issues relating to Nazi-looted property, as cultural property confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution can be found in institutions in both countries today. However, there has hardly been any exchange of research findings or working methods to date. In addition to sustainable networking and more comprehensive analysis of historical sources, PREP also aims to broaden the perspective on research topics: While research to date has concentrated on paintings, sculptures and Judaica, PREP's focus in terms of content is on the areas of Asian art, decorative arts and prints or drawings and works on paper.
SPK and the Smithsonian Institution are the lead organisations for the project, which is coordinated on the German side by the Zentralarchiv der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz and on the US side by the Smithsonian Provenance Research Initiative. As partners, they have gained established academic and museum partners who have also been involved in provenance research for some time: the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte München, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. The German Lost Art Foundation will support the project as an advisory participant.
Hermann Parzinger, President of the SPK, says: "The topic of provenance research is of equal concern to institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. Networking between them has so far only been sporadic, but is immensely important in order to conduct research more efficiently. With our project, we want to establish a network that will enable long-term and sustainable cooperation between American and German researchers and museums and anchor the topic even more firmly in the public consciousness. With the Smithsonian Institution, we have an experienced partner at our side."
"We are delighted to launch this programme together with the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz," said Richard Kurin, Acting Provost and Under Secretary for Museums and Research at the Smithsonian. "PREP will enhance the skills and networks of our researchers and help us better share provenance research methods and findings with other scholars and the broader public."
Together with their partners, SPK and the Smithsonian Institution will organise six one-week workshops between 2017 and 2019. Curators, archive staff, historians and other experts will discuss current and future methods of provenance research. They will also discuss how information on existing source material can be better shared and how research findings can be publicised internationally. The workshops will also serve to train the next generation of museum staff dedicated to provenance research. PREP will also contribute to the development of common online platforms. A further goal is the development and online publication of a guide to provenance research on Nazi art looting, which will, among other things, enable a better understanding of the different research structures in the United States and Germany and make it easier to find contacts. PREP will thus provide significant impetus for provenance research in both countries.
The project is largely financed by the ERP Special Fund. This special fund originated from the "Marshall Plan Aid" for the reconstruction of the German economy, the European Recovery Programme (ERP). The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media also supports PREP financially.
Applicants can find further information in the project description on the foundation's website.
About the Smithsonian Institution
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. (USA), is the world's largest museum, education and research complex. It includes 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and nine research centres. Around 6,500 employees and 6,300 volunteers work at the Smithsonian Institution. In 2009, the Smithsonian Institution established the Smithsonian Provenance Research Initiative (SPRI) to investigate whether its art collections contain cultural property seized as a result of Nazi persecution. SPRI is currently supervising projects in various individual museums of the Smithsonian Institution. SPRI also supports new partnerships and projects with other institutions through scholarly exchange. Web on the website of the Smithsonian Institution.
About the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
With its museums, libraries, archives and research institutes, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) is one of the most important cultural institutions in the world. Its collections document the cultural development of mankind in all parts of the world from its beginnings to the present day. The combination of art and culture with science and research is a distinctive feature of the SPK.