PRISM: an EU-funded project to Fight Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Objects, implemented by ICOM  

ICOM Estonia project will aim to participate in the prevention of illegal trafficking in Estonia by increasing cooperation between all stakeholders involved, improving monitoring and tracking mechanisms of illegal trafficking of cultural artifacts and raising awareness about the importance of protecting cultural heritage and the negative consequences of illegal trafficking.

Key activities:

1. A seminar (structured in workshops) organized with law enforcement agencies and customs agents.
2. Publication of a study material to better map/understand the situation at national level, including some trends and identification of high-risk areas.
3. Educational campaign targeting both local communities and potential buyers to promote ethical practices and discourage the demand for illicitly acquired artifacts

Expected results: 

• Better understanding of the different roles of involved partners.
• Increased cooperation, joint investigations, and improved coordination in addressing illegal trafficking.
• Enhanced monitoring and tracking mechanisms to enable better detection and documentation of illicit trafficking activities.
• Increased knowledge of the public and understanding of the value of cultural heritage and the negative consequences associated with illegal trafficking.

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ICOM Latvia project, titled “Learning from the Past: Latvian Museum Heritage Trafficking in World War II and its Aftermaths”, will aim to investigate and illuminate the untold history of Latvian museum collections during war, occupation, and loss of independent statehood, examining the trafficking of Latvian cultural heritage and its various social, political, and cultural impacts from 1940 to 1990.

Key activities:

1. Five case-studies on Latvian museums and their collections, focusing on the examination of looted, trafficked, and lost artifacts during World War II and the subsequent Soviet occupation.
2. International scientific conference with museum professionals and other specialists from the Baltic Sea region to present the case studies.
3. Publication of the conference proceedings.
4. Awareness and dissemination of the publication, complemented by short videos documentaries.

Expected results:

• An overlook on the Latvian museum collection history artifacts during World War II and the subsequent Soviet occupation.
• Established an enduring network of heritage experts to shed light on the hidden aspects of museum collection history during World War II and its aftermath in the Baltic Sea region.
• Recognising previously trafficked or looted cultural objects can mitigate the risk of the situation recurring, enabling cultural heritage institutions to prepare more effectively for future emergencies.
• Raised public awareness and sparked discussions within the community.

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ICOM Lithuania project aim is to disseminate sufficient information and resources to enable the timely recognition of illegal art trade for museum’s professionals, and appropriate responses to prevent it, as well as return the artefacts to their rightful owners or cultural heritage institutions.

Key activities:

1. Publication of a handbook for museum’s professionals, which would present examples of illegal trade in art values and the possibilities of preventing it.
2. Public conference organized to present the publication.

Expected results:

• Heritage professionals able to react more quickly and efficiently to identify the relevant legal provisions and instructions in Lithuanian and EU laws and to understand the actions required and who to turn to for assistance in stopping the illegal trade in valuables.
• Raise awareness of the illegal trade in cultural objects within the wider community.

To learn more

PRISM-Lithuania Facebook Page

ICOM Hungary project will seek to enhance the efforts being made to combat the illicit trade in cultural heritage in Hungary. This will be achieved through the dissemination of information on illicit trafficking, as well as by facilitating collaboration between experts in the cultural heritage sector and law enforcement agencies. Hungary is indeed located at the heart of Europe, at the meeting point of East and West, and on one of the Schengen area’s borders. Consequently, illegal trafficking of works of art poses an internal and external challenge.

Key activities:

1. Series of workshops with the participation of both national and international experts.
2. Publication of a Cultural Property Safeguarding Plan.
3. Exhibition of “Art treasures from the underworld”

Expected results: 

• Enhanced knowledge for domestic and international professionals.
• Operation tool available for professionals.
• A general increase in awareness amongst the public on this issue.

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The National History Museum of Romania project will aim to improve interaction between museum professionals and professionals from the legal system, police and customs authorities in order to affront the main vulnerabilities of museums in Romania and generate applicable models of risk management plans at national level.

Key activities:

1. Regional symposium with participants from Romania (including ICOM Romania), the Republic of Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia.
2. Publication of an Album – Catalog with archaeological pieces from the collections of the MNIR and other museums in Romania.
3. Bilateral workshop on cultural heritage legislations from Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
4. Heritage education pilot project.

Expected results: 

• Creating a link between heritage professionals and the authorities.
• Creating a coherent and articulated framework of collaboration between the different professions involved through mutual knowledge of specific procedures and constraints.
• Sensitization of increasingly wider categories regarding the issue of cultural heritage.
• Creation of accessible educational bases for heritage, for the young generation, in a language they resonate with.

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ICOM Slovakia project aims to strengthen and expand activities to improve the awareness of professionals and the public about the protection of cultural heritage.

Key activities:

1. Using a multimedia tool – a web platform, create a “manual” on the safeguarding of collections theft-prevention, correct object handling in the event of a natural disaster, war or conflict.
2. Launch event of the platform

Expected results: 

• Inform heritage professionals on illicit trafficking and its prevention.
• Educate lay public about the protection of cultural heritage and the illegal export of collection items.

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ICOM Ukraine project will aim at preventing the illegal trafficking of cultural property by collecting, summarizing, and making available current data on the situation in Ukraine. ICOM Ukraine hopes to enhance the trans-border and international fight against the illegal trafficking, particularly in emergency situations exacerbated by conflicts.

Key activities:

1. Researching and gathering information about the loss of cultural heritage in museum’s collections and publication of methodological recommendations for appropriate actions by museums and protection of paleoethological heritage.
2. Increasing cooperation between Law enforcement agencies and Ukrainian cultural professionals during the organization of four workshops.

Expected results: 

• Providing relevant information supporting the prevention of illegal traffic in cultural property on an ongoing basis at the national and international levels
• Improving information at the appropriate level about lost objects of cultural heritage for Ukrainian and international law enforcement agencies.
• Improving cooperation between cultural figures and law enforcement agencies’ representatives on combating illegal trafficking of cultural heritage.

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