A core task of collection management institutions is provenance research. Part of this is the demand for collections from a colonial context acquired in a fair manner. Careful handling of colonial collections requires not only research, but also collaboration and knowledge exchange. We will help you get started in this webinar. The webinar will be held in Dutch.
This webinar has already taken place. Rewatch this webinar below.
Date: 1 March 2024
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 uur (GMT+1)
Fee: no admission fee
Target audience
Curators, registrars, Policy officer at nation, provincial of local government
On Saturday the 23rd of March 2024, Museum Huis Doorn will host a symposium focused on colonial art belonging to the last German emperor Wilhelm II. In cooperation with Utrecht University, the museum invastigated the provenance of its collections with possible links to colonial history. The symposium will be held in English.
In line with a broader development in the cultural sector, Museum Huis Doorn in cooperation with Utrecht University, started investigating the origins and provenance of parts of its collection with possible links to colonial history.
During this investigation, unexpected stories came to light regarding the German imperial family, German colonial policy and even the First World War. As an example of this we uncovered the stories behind a series of invaluable Chinese lacquer panels straight from the Forbidden City in Bejing. We were even able to uncover the identity of a unknown African colonial soldier.
The symposium will centre around the following subjects, all of which are linked to object-based research findings from within Huis Doorn’s collection:
– Colonial Art – Colonialism and WWI in the museum – Legacy of German colonial policy
The colonial past has left traces in the collections of Dutch museums and other institutions. Because of the imbalance of power, many objects were removed from their countries of origin and brought to the Netherlands and became lost to communities. The current Dutch policy on colonial collections aims to help rectify this historic injustice by facilitating requests for restitution of cultural heritage objects from countries of origin, by working towards openness and transparency about collections in the Netherlands, and by strengthening international collaboration on these collections.
This webinar has already taken place. Rewatch it below.
Date: March 21st, 2024
Time: 12:00 to 13:30 CET
Fee: no fee
For whom?
Heritage professionals, (provenance)researchers, policymakers, cultural heritage organizations from countries and communities of origin
In this online webinar, we will provide information about the current Dutch policy on colonial collections and you will meet some of the organizations and experts involved in the implementation of this policy. We also want to provide room for questions regarding the presence of, research on, and the restitution procedure of cultural heritage collections. This webinar is organized by ErfgoedAcademie in collaboration with the Colonial Collections Consortium. The Consortium is established to provide information on colonial collections policy, relevant organizations and experts, networks and opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange.
You can register for this webinar via the link below. One week in advance you will receive a confirmation email with links to the Zoom meeting as well as preparation materials that we would like you to study in advance.
New scholarship programme strengthens collaboration in cultural heritageNuffic announces the launch of the Cultural Heritage scholarship programme. This initiative, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is designed to empower young professionals from Indonesia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and South Africa to enhance their knowledge of cultural heritage management.
Read more about the scholarship programmeCall for fellowships now openMoving objects, Mobilising Culture in the Context of (De)colonization is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and intended for researchers from formerly colonised countries – including heritage practitioners, historians, archaeologists, social scientists, artists, journalists, and/or cultural activists – with an interest in (lost) collections or objects from those countries or regions that are kept in the Netherlands.
Read more about the Call for fellowshipsSynchronising colonial heritage: a linked data approachAuthors: Chris Dijkshoorn, Jauco Noordzij, Sjors de Valk
Since the seventeenth century, the Netherlands had trading posts and colonies in Asia, Africa and North and South America. Throughout this period many cultural objects from these regions have been brought to our country. These objects can still be seen in museums today. However, it is often unclear which objects should be considered ‘colonial heritage’ and, if so, whether they were acquired lawfully or against the will of their original owners. A new digital platform supports users in gaining insight into this: the Colonial Collections datahub.
Read more about linked data approachInternational museological collaboration Indonesia and The Netherlands18 – 22 December 2023
Earlier this year the Indonesian Ministry for Education, Culture, Research and Technology (MoECRT) set up the Indonesian Heritage Agency. IHA is placed under the Directorate for Culture led by the Director-General, and unites 17 museums and 34 heritage sites across Indonesia under one management. This includes National Museum Indonesia, National Gallery Indonesia, Fort Vredenburg, and UNESCO world heritage sites Borobudur and Sangiran.
Read more about museological collaboration IndonesiaSaber DiponegoroAt the end of November, a saber of famous Indonesian resistance hero Diponegoro resurfaced in Het Loo Palace. The blade of the saber was most likely part of the personal weapon of the prince with a legendary reputation, who fought the Dutch colonial rule. The item embodies his spirit.
Read more about Saber DiponegoroNWO call now openThe expertise of researchers from countries of origin is crucial for the study of objects and collections from a colonial context present in Dutch museums. Partly as a result of these issues, a new call for proposals has now been developed within programme line 2 of the NWA (‘National Science Agenda’): ‘Research on collections with a colonial context’.
Read more about the NWO call now openSubsidy 2023-2025 grantedThe Colonial Collections Consortium has been awarded a subsidy of 3.1 million euros. With this working budget, the Consortium will actively focus on collection accessibility, knowledge sharing and collaboration. This happens within the Consortium and in collaboration with museums, collection-managing institutions, the advisory committee, countries of origin, and other countries where similar collections are present.
Read more about the Subsidy