Funding of provenance research in the area of "cultural property lost due to Nazi persecution" (Nazi-looted art)
Project funding for provenance research on cultural property seized due to Nazi persecution (Nazi-looted art), including individual case investigations (initial checks), inventory reviews, and long-term research projects. Applications for long-term research needs must be submitted by April 1 and October 1 of each year, while applications for short-term research needs can be submitted at any time.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The aim of the funding is the identification, documentation, and research of cultural assets that were confiscated due to Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945. Supported are systematic inventory reviews in museums, libraries, archives, and universities, as well as individual case investigations, heir research, digitization of archival materials, and the development of sustainable provenance research methods. The overarching objective is to strengthen standards in documentation, network research findings, and facilitate the implementation of just solutions in accordance with the Washington Principles and the Joint Declaration.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel positions
- Contracts for work and services
- Travel expenses
- Material expenses
- Digitization of archival materials
Non-eligible expenses
- Acquisition of real estate
- Legal and mediation costs
Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
- Non-profit Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Companies
- Individuals
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Headquarters or business location in Germany
- Ownership or disposal rights over the objects to be examined
- Existence of suspicions of Nazi-looted art
- Commitment to fair solutions in accordance with the Washington Principles and Joint Declaration
Documents required for application
- Application form
- Financial plan
- Proof of use (numerical)
- Technical report
- Interim and final reports
Evaluation criteria
- Relevance to provenance research
- Methodology and research design
- Sustainability of project results
Description
The Program for the Promotion of Provenance Research in the Area of "Cultural Goods Lost Due to Nazi Persecution" is aimed at public and non-profit institutions, educational providers, companies, as well as private individuals based in Germany who have indications of Nazi-looted art in their own collections. Funding is provided for individual case research (initial checks), systematic inventory reviews in museums, libraries, archives, and universities, as well as long-term research or heir identification projects. Applicants can cover expenses for temporary personnel positions, service contracts, travel costs, material resources, and the digitization of archival holdings up to a total amount of €400,000 (funding rate up to 100%). Short-term projects are fully funded up to €40,000 and can be submitted at any time, while applications for long-term research needs are possible twice yearly, on April 1 and October 1. The project duration varies from one to up to 60 months, depending on the scope and nature of the projects.
The focus is on the identification and documentation of objects lost due to Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945, as well as the development of sustainable methods of provenance research. The goal is to strengthen scientific standards, network research results, and promote just solutions in accordance with the Washington Principles and the Joint Declaration. A prerequisite for funding is the commitment to transparent documentation, fair restitution procedures, and reporting – from interim and final reports to the registration of found objects in the Lost Art Database. Through this initiative, the German Center for Cultural Property Losses makes a significant contribution to raising awareness for provenance research and demonstrating pathways to just solutions for Nazi-looted art.
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