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.
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.
“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” said Sophie Delepierre, Head of the Heritage Protection Department at the ICOM International Secretariat and coordinator of the project at the welcoming meeting on 21 February 2025. “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” she added.
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.
