On April 9, 2025, the 7th Provenance Research Day will take place - a day of action that connects museums, libraries, archives and research institutions in Germany and internationally. The aim is to raise public awareness of the importance of researching the provenance of collection objects and to make the often complex paths of objects in museums and scientific collections transparent.
The focus is particularly on questions of unlawful acquisition, historical contexts of injustice and the responsibility of today's institutions in dealing with these objects.
The Humboldt Forum is also celebrating this special day with a diverse program. Visitors will have the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the work of provenance research. In guided tours, talks and interactive formats, they can enter into direct exchange with researchers and learn more about the methods and challenges of this research discipline.
A particular focus at the Humboldt Forum is on post-colonial provenance research. Many of the objects on display come from colonial contexts and raise questions about their origins, their original owners and the conditions under which they were acquired. How are these objects researched? What collaborations exist with communities of origin? And what paths are there for the future handling of these collection items?
The Provenance Research Day is a unique opportunity to talk to experts, gain a better understanding of research processes and actively participate in the debate on how to deal with cultural property from problematic contexts. Take advantage of this special day to take a look behind the scenes of research and discuss the past and future of museum collections together.
April 09 14-15:20: #spurensuche - Provenance walk
April 09 16:30-18:30: Hidden paths and emerging networks. Provenance research between memory and responsibility
April 09, 17-18:00 Traces, networks, entanglements - provenance research between memory and responsibility - discussion
April 10, 17-18:00: Guided tour:Restitution. A long history?
11.04.2025 17-18:00: macht || beziehungen Exhibition talk on provenance research
Further information can be found here
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