Dispossessions of Cultural Objects between 1914 and 1989/1991 –
Alpe Adria Region in Comparative Perspective

March 19-21, 2018
International Conference in Ljubljana, France Stele Institute of Art History ZRC SAZU

Our research agenda is focused on the Alpe Adria region during the 20^th century, a multicultural, multi-ethnic and multinational area that has witnessed uniquely complex combinations of shifting antagonistic forces. While the political sphere had an enormous influence in shaping the ways in which cultural heritage was treated, art historians, experts in monument preservation, art dealers, cultural bureaucrats, and other protagonists were often complicit and played an active role in dispossessing individuals, private organizations, and even nation states of their property or the objects in their custody.

It is only in recent years, fuelled by the 1998 Washington Conference Principles, that research in this field has been intensified. But most if not all research efforts seem to adhere to a national agenda, or even adopt the perspective of a single institution (like a museum), and in many cases provenance research does still not transgress national borders.

The international conference will compare, discuss and analyse research on dispossessions of cultural objects in the 20^th century both in the Alpe Adria region and in Central and Eastern Europe in general.

We are especially interested in the following questions: What is the status of cultural heritage in times of conflict? Who transferred or translocated which objects, when and why? Which explanations (if any) were – and are – given? Which narratives ensued? Where are the objects today? What is their current status? How do archival documents (from the region and beyond) help to understand (regional and national) uses of past?

We plan to publish the papers in a peer-reviewed monograph, i.e. a regular thematic issue of the journal Acta historiae artis Slovenica. The journal is published by the France Stele Institute of Art History ZRC SAZU.

Organisation: France Stele Institute of Art History ZRC SAZU (Franci Lazarini, Barbara Murovec and Barbara Vodopivec) in association with partner institutions of the TransCultAA project.

Organising Committee: Ljerka Dulibić (ldulibic@hazu.hr), Christian Fuhrmeister (c.fuhrmeister@zikg.eu), Donata Levi (donata.levi@uniud.it) and Barbara Murovec (BaMurovec@zrc-sazu.si).

Details on the program will follow soon.

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TransCultAA is a HERA Project