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The Kunsthaus is a place of knowledge production, where important topics are put up for discussion and presented alongside new scientific findings. The publicly accessible collection and the knowledge of its historical background are essential for our cultural self-image. The development of the collection reflects the history of the institution and the changes in society. Its cataloguing includes research and communication to the general public in equal measure.

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Provenance Research

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The employees of the Kunsthaus are internationally networked within their disciplines and across disciplines. We work together with other organisations on both profession-specific and socially relevant issues. We share our expertise and pool resources, particularly where research and science are supported with public funds or by third parties.

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International Conference
20-22 November 2024

Sensitive, problematic, contested?

Challenges and opportunities in dealing with cultural heritage in museums

A collaboration between the Kunsthaus Zürich, the Swiss National Museum and the Museum Rietberg.

The handling of cultural heritage in museums has become the focus of heated public discussions in recent years. At the centre of the debate is a critical examination of collection histories and object biographies, as well as a critical review of traditional institutional and museum practices This entanglement of issues takes centre stage at the international conference held in Zurich, jointly organised by the Kunsthaus Zürich with its focus on fine art from the Middle Ages to modern and contemporary, the Swiss National Museum which specialises in cultural history and the Museum Rietberg with its collections of arts from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. The three museums have been examining their engagement with objects, testimonies and stories that are considered 'sensitive, problematic or contested' in their exhibitions and collection research.   

The three-day international conference is primarily aimed at experts and practitioners. The focus is on the exchange of experiences from practice in dealing with objects, testimonies and stories that are considered 'sensitive, problematic or contested'. The conference will take place in-person and will be livestreamed online. It will comprise presentations of case studies from over 20 international museum practitioners and experts drawn from a call for papers, panel discussions, two lecture performances, exhibition tours, as well as a world café. The aim is a lively, open exchange on methodological, strategic and programmatic considerations by exploring topics such as 'curating', 'collecting', 'research', 'provenances,' and 'modes of display' from a wide range of perspectives.

Programme

Tickets

The International Conference is sold out.

Livestream

You can register here for the livestream of the International Conference:

LIVESTREAM

Contact for questions

zurichconference2024@kunsthaus.ch

Submit your proposal

Day one: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Venue: Kunsthaus Zürich, Heimplatz, 8001 Zurich  

12pm: Registration  

1–2pm: Introduction and welcome 

2–4pm: Panel I 'Curating' (presentations of case studies + Q&A session)
Speakers:
Rosa Anna Di Lella (Museum of Civilizations of Rome, Italy), Alexander Herrera (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia), Jennifer Smailes & Eva Fischer-Hausdorf (Kunsthalle Bremen, Germany)

4:30–6pm: Guided exhibition tours 

6:15–7:15pm: Lecture performance: meLê yamomo

Day two: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Venue: Museum Rietberg, Gablerstrasse 15, 8002 Zurich  

9–11am: Panel II 'Collecting' (presentations of case studies + Q&A session)
Speakers:
Ophélie Laloy (KBR Royal Library of Belgium), Carolina Orsini & Sara Chiesa (Mudec Museum of Cultures of Milan, Italy), Aaron Nambadi (Windhoek City Museum, Namibia), Céline Hug (National Museum, Switzerland) & Michèle Dick (Fotostiftung Schweiz, Switzerland) 

11:30am–1pm: Panel III 'Research' (presentations of case studies + Q&A session)
Speakers:
Noor Ahmed (The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan), Carl Deussen (University of Amsterdam, Netherlands), Lucas Burkart (Digitales Schaudepot, Switzerland) & Beatrice Voirol (Museum der Kulturen Basel, Switzerland) 

1–3pm: Guided exhibition tours 

3–4:30pm: World Café 
Marina Amstad, Damian Christinger, Sonja Enz, Sophia Florineth, Golda Ha-Eiros, Sibylle Lichtensteiger, Floriane Morin, Stephanie Müller, Andrea Richter, Jane Schindler, Anna Szöke, Severin Thalmann, Thomas Zaugg

5–7pm: Panel IV 'Provenances' (presentations of case studies + Q&A session)
Speakers:
Christine Howald (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany), Mara Lagerweij (Rijksmuseum, Netherlands), Katharina Otterbach (Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland), Victoria Reed (Museum of Fine Arts Boston, USA)

Day three: Friday, November 22, 2024
Venue: Swiss National Museum, Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zurich  

9–10:30am: Guided exhibition tours  

11am–1pm: Panel V 'Modes of Display' (presentations of case studies + Q&A session)
Speakers:
Dora Strahm (Natural History Museum Bern, Switzerland), Khalil Rabah (artist, The Palestinian Museum of Natural History and Humankind), Donna Rose & Brenda Malone (National Museum of Ireland), Sheila Reda (Mauritshuis, Netherlands).

2–4pm: Closing Discussion and Wrap Up
Speakers:
Ann Demeester (director Kunsthaus Zürich), Annette Bhagwati (director Museum Rietberg), Denise Tonella (director Swiss National Museum) 

Detailed program (Download PDF)

Programme and organisation

Kunsthaus Zürich: Ann Demeester, director / Joachim Sieber, head of provenance research / Ioana Jimborean, research associate / Kim Stengl, project and research assistant.

Swiss National Museum, Zurich: Denise Tonella, director / Heidi Amrein, chief curator.

Museum Rietberg, Zurich: Annette Bhagwati, director / Esther Tisa Francini, head of provenance research and archive.

In cooperation with:

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Supported by:

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