News:

Swiss Commission for Science, Education and Culture 26 September 2022

On 26 September, the lower chamber of the Swiss parliament (Ständerat) approved a motion for the creation of a national platform for provenance research. The motion has thus taken the last hurdle and the Swiss government will implement the platform. Museums and collections supported by the federal government for their provenance research will be obliged to upload their findings to the platform.

Page from the Parliament website on the creation of a 'Platform for provenance research on cultural assets in Switzerland'

The Federal Council is commissioned to coordinate and support a platform in the form of a web-based database for provenance research on cultural assets together with other partners. The platform should meet the following framework conditions:

1. The platform collects and systematizes research results on the provenance of cultural assets in Switzerland that have been developed according to scientific criteria.

2. The platform is based on scientific principles and is committed to freedom of research in terms of content.

3. Public or private museums and collections from Germany and abroad can upload their findings to the platform.

4. Museums and collections that are supported by the federal government for their provenance research are obliged to upload their findings to the platform.

5. The platform is available to researchers and interested parties worldwide via the Internet.

STATEMENT OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL FROM 04.05.2022

Provenance research serves to clarify open questions about the origin of cultural assets. It is an ongoing task for all museums, both for new acquisitions and for existing collections. The improved accessibility of the results via a suitable platform serves the quality and transparency of provenance research and promotes networking between researchers. If the motion is accepted, the most economical solution that meets the qualitative requirements of a research platform will be implemented.

 

 

https://www.parlament.ch/DE/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20223023