ICOM is very proud to announce the launch of the new PRISM Project (Prevention, Research, Investigation and Security in Museums), an EU-funded initiative to fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods.
Funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, PRISM will develop operational tools to foster a better understanding of the illicit trafficking of cultural goods in Europe and help in its prevention.
The three-year project will be led by ICOM’s Heritage Protection Department, located at the International Secretariat in Paris. The project’s partners represent key ICOM representations and members in seven countries in Europe: ICOM Estonia, ICOM Hungary, ICOM Latvia, ICOM Lithuania, The National History Museum of Romania, ICOM Slovakia and ICOM Ukraine.
Objectives
The project has two main objectives. The first is the development of a tool that makes expertise available, easily accessible, and trans-national. 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. ICOM will build on the existing project taking advantage of the existing qualities while introducing new technologies.
The second objective is the development of preventive measures for securing collections. 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 respective countries of the seven partners.
Each national partner has chosen to develop a project that is designed to address the most pressing needs in their respective countries regarding the illicit trafficking of cultural property, ensuring a tailored response with maximum impact. Several of the partners will place particular emphasis on fostering the exchange of knowledge and expertise between museum professionals, law enforcement agencies, government agencies and other authorities as well as the general public.
Start of the project & name
The kick-off meeting for the PRISM project took place on 21 February 2025, bringing together the eight partners for the first time in a spirit of great anticipation for the roll out of the planned projects. Sophie Delepierre, Head of the Heritage Protection Department at the ICOM International Secretariat and coordinator of the project, welcomed the partners stating, “With the PRISM Project, the EU has given ICOM the opportunity to reshape the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage in participating countries. Some are already very involved in this fight, and we will build on that. Others are not yet sufficiently mobilised against this traffic, and museums have a clear role in terms of awareness–raising and prevention. For this project, ICOM will rely on its greatest strength: its network”.
The name of the project, PRISM, is intended to recall the clarity and transparency of glass, while the colour spectrum represents the rich diversity of the cultural landscape of Europe.
The first of the project’s activities will begin in the first half of 2025. Project updates will be posted on ICOM’s website, newsletter and social media channels.
For more information : heritage.protection@icom.museum
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.