ICOM Slovakia is one of the partners in PRISM (Prevention, Research, Investigation and Security in Museums), a three-year iniltiative funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture and led by ICOM’s Heritage Protection Department, based at its International Secretariat in Paris.
The project partners are ICOM Estonia, ICOM Hungary, ICOM Latvia, ICOM Lithuania, the National Museum of Romanian History, ICOM Slovakia, and ICOM Ukraine.
Background
Museums are unique in that they are knowledge-rich and reliable experts in heritage protection. However, they can also be resource-poor and vulnerable to criminal activity. Both aspects must be considered to understand their role in preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural goods. In this regard, ICOM has long supported the global museum community in protecting and ethically managing their collections. Subsequently, combating illicit trafficking in cultural goods has become a cornerstone of the organisation’s mission. Building on this commitment, PRISM action will help museums to develop operational tools to foster a better understanding of the illicit trafficking of cultural goods in Europe and help in its prevention regionally and beyond.
Objectives
The first objective is the development of a tool that makes expertise available, easily accessible, and transnational. This involves the upgrading of the International Observatory on Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Goods online platform, as well as regular meetings to facilitate the active exchange of information, knowledge, and best practices between experts.
The second objective is the development of preventive and awareness raising measures for protecting and securing collections in Europe. This will be achieved through a broad range of activities that will improve understanding and raise awareness among diverse audiences. The activities will also include documentation and research in diverse museums, as well as better knowledge of the illicit traffic of cultural property in the partners’ respective countries.
A new era for ICOM’s International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods
In 2015, ICOM created the first International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods in order to meet a widely expressed need: a central repository where the various stakeholders in cultural heritage, researchers, law enforcement agencies and the general public can obtain more information on the illicit trafficking of cultural property. As a permanent international platform for cooperation, the Observatory encourages collaboration and the dissemination of information, improves monitoring methods, data collection and scientific research, and promotes the development and exchange of best practices. With its database, it also constitutes an innovative tool that serves as an online information repository, bringing together numerous resources on the illicit trafficking of cultural property around the world.
As part of the strategic objective of the EU action plan against trafficking in cultural goods, ICOM Secretariat is upgrading the International Observatory in terms of its technical aspects, design, and content. The aim of the revision is to facilitate better access to information, knowledge sharing, and multinational cooperation. The project also plans to re-establish and expand links with recognised experts in the field, while integrating a new generation of experts at three meetings in Paris between 2025 and 2027, in order to ensure the scientific and operational relevance of the platform’s content. ICOM will build on the existing content, taking advantage of its current qualities while introducing new features. The launch is planned for 2027.
Source: https://www.icom-slovakia.sk
PRISM project website: https://icom.museum/en/heritage-protection/prism-an-eu-funded-project-to-fight-illicit-trafficking-of-cultural-objects-implemented-by-icom/
For further information: heritage.protection@icom.museum
