Looted Symposium

The symposium is part of the annual meeting by the Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung that brings together almost 550 academics and experts that research the provenance of cultural assets from across the globe in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the USA, France, Great Britain, Israel and Italy who work in public/private institutions, the art trade, the legal system, and academic or freelance research.

The symposium Looted / Beroofd will explore themes relating to the impact of loss and the shifting meaning of art, books and Jewish ritual objects when their context changes in and around the Second World War. These themes also feature prominently in the simultaneous exhibition (in collaboration with Rijksmuseum) at the Jewish Museum and National Holocaust Museum.

Day One will focus on the opening themes of Trauma (Intergenerational Trauma) and Shifting Meaning of Objects, which are divided across the day to represent a variety of speakers and issues within these umbrella topics.

Day Two will be dedicated to subjects within Research and new findings in provenance research (Global Perspectives - National and international). These will include the delegate groups from the Global Thematic Working Groups of the Arbeitskreis as well as experts from the Art Market, Museum and Academic sectors in the morning program, followed by an afternoon of excursions to:

• RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History (Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis, The Hague)
• NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies (Instituut voor Oorlogs-, Holocaust- en Genocidestudies, Amsterdam)
• National Archives (Nationaal Archief, The Hague)
• The Amsterdam City Archives (Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Amsterdam)
• Jewish Cultural Quarter (Joods Cultureel Kwartier, Amsterdam) & National Holocaust Museum (Nationaal Holocaust Museum, Amsterdam)

*Please note limited numbers per excursion, and advanced reservations are required.

THEMES

• Trauma (Intergenerational Trauma)
• Shifting Meaning of Objects
• Research and new findings in provenance research (Global Perspectives - National and international)

SPEAKERS & PROGRAMME

To be announced

For more information mail us on provenancesymposium2024@rijksmuseum.nl

CALL FOR POSTERS

We are now inviting proposals on subjects related to the conference themes and (or) projects linked to provenance research. Submissions should include a title, summary (max. 200 words) and bio (max. 50 words). Limited space available.

Please submit your poster proposals for the attention of Aurora Wilson Dyer Gough to provenancesymposium2024@rijksmuseum.nl by 01/06/2024.

Please note: All versions of the posters (both those presenting in person and those unable to attend) will be available on the symposium website from September 2024.

BENEFICIARIES

The symposium Looted is made possible in part by the European Union, Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung e.V. en Sotheby’s.

International symposium

The following event may also be of interest to you: 12 September 2024 the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) is organizing an international symposium in Amsterdam on the future of WWII Restitution Policies, in the Netherlands and abroad. More information can be found on their website.

Photo: Image Department, Rijksmuseum, Empty frames and canvases placed over the furniture in a room of the Drucker Extension. In 1939, the evacuation of many items took place due to the threat of war. The museum was closed.