International Provenance Research Day

International Origins Research Day is an annual event that has been held on the second Wednesday of April since 2019. The day is of great importance to provenance research as it emphasizes the social and scientific importance of this work and provides a wide audience with an opportunity to learn about research methods that often remain behind the scenes.

Origins Research Day is supported by numerous cultural institutions around the world, including museums, libraries, and archives. These institutions offer a variety of activities, both online and in-person, to shed light on the provenance of cultural objects. Topics range from cultural objects confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution to colonial-era cultural objects and objects expropriated in the GDR.

A special feature of the day is the collaboration of researchers from a wide range of organizations and institutions with the goal of promoting transparency and networking in the research community. The Day is also an opportunity to discuss best practices in implementing the 1998 Washington Principles and issues related to the all-German restitution law.