Resources for Cultural Heritage News
Keeping up with research in such an interdisciplinary domain can feel like facing a hydra, with new developments constantly emerging in fields like archaeology, law, social sciences, art history, and more. To help navigate this landscape, I’ve compiled a list of regularly updated open resources that I use to stay informed about news, calls for papers, conferences, recent publications, and research projects. This list is for anyone interested in the latest international cultural heritage news, but is compiled from the United Kingdom with students and early-career researchers particularly in mind. While it’s not exhaustive, hopefully it can act as a useful point of reference. If you know of any websites that should be included, please let me know.
International News Websites
A good way to follow the global direction of heritage and culture is to keep an eye on what kind of news is making headlines on international art market/ museums news sources.
Expert Blogs
Personal blogs from academics and domain experts where they share their insights into the trade, as well as posting information on relevant events which they hear about.
Starting with any resource other than Dr Donna Yates’s blog would be an injustice! She is an expert in the domain, the lead on the Trafficking Transformations project, and all round unmatched badass (and I am not just saying that because I work with her). Her Art Crime Research Opportunities have helped me and countless others to find out about all kinds of relevant events.
From: Dr Donna Yates
Topics: illicit antiquities trade, academic opportunities
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The preeminent Gill uses his blog focuses on the ethics of the market for archaeological material. I am quite sure every paper ever written about the illicit antiquities trade references his research with Professor Christopher Chippindale on the market for Cycladic figures, and it is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the market. On the blog Gill posts updates and shares his thoughts on cases of contemporary looting.
From: Dr. David Gill
Topics: Illicit antiquities trade, Ethics in archaeology
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Renowned investigative reporter Jason Felch, author of the award winning book Chasing Aphrodite with Ralph Frammolino, has researched the illicit antiquities trade for over a decade. Though his blog is not updated often, it is well-worth checking from time to time as his reporting on the trade is superb. Like many others, reading Chasing Aphrodite was one of the main sources which really piqued my interest in this domain.
From: Jason Felch
Topics: Illicit antiquities trade, Museums
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A blog from one of the co-founders of Holocaust Art Restitution Project (HARP), on it Masurovsky posts well-researched, in-depth, and thought provoking personal pieces on the restitution of Nazi-looted art works.
From: Dr. Marc Masurovsky
Topics: Restitution, Provenance Research
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Barford is a leading archaeologist, and his regularly updated blog, focuses on the archaeological impact of privately collecting antiquities and of artefact hunting. He also blogs about archaeological events which are in the news, and he is refreshingly not afraid to share his point of view!
From: Paul Barford
Topics: Archaeology, Illicit antiquities trade
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The Provenance Research Blog features interdisciplinary content from a range of art historians, academics, researchers, lawyers, collectors, artists, and advisors, and the blog covers a wide scope of art-related topics which is a great way to keep up to date with different threads of research on heritage.
From: Dr Tom Flynn, Angelina Giovani
Topics: Provenance Research, Art Market, Restitution
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Hardy is a researcher in heritage crime, and on his personal blog dedicated to the illicit antiquities trade he explores the destruction of community and cultural property by organised crime and through political violence. His focus is on investigating and analysing crimes against cultural heritage and community property, and much of his excellent recent writing has centred around the destruction of Ukrainian heritage.
From: Dr. Samuel Andrew Hardy
Topics: Illicit antiquities trade, Heritage Crime
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Newsletters
As well as being good websites to check out from time to time, these organisations are worth subscribing to for a weekly email full of opportunities relevant to the market for cultural heritage.
The leading UK organisation for professional archaeologists. Their website gives advice on everything from starting out in archaeology, to professional registration. CIfA host annual events such as the Festival Of Archaeology, which are super welcoming, and a great place to dip your toes into presenting for the first time. Their newsletter covers all kinds of news in UK archaeology, from academic posts to volunteering.
From: Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
Topics: Archaeology, Academic and Professional Advice
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A comprehensive website for information on looted property from 1933-1945. The Central Registry serves as a repository of information on Nazi looting, documenting the fate of families and artworks, monitoring policy implementations, offering guidance to various stakeholders, and conducting research on cultural spoliation during the Nazi era. Their weekly newsletter is a treasure of interesting opportunities each time it arrives in the inbox.
From: Directed by Anne Webber
Topics: Provenance Research, Looted Cultural Property
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Training
These websites offer training or internships led by professionals in the field of provenance research. Though I have not personally attended any of the trainings, I have heard them well recommended.
The Association for Research into Crimes is packed full of leading voices in the domain. Their short online courses appear to be forever sold out, however they also various in-person training options in Amalia, Italy each summer. They host an intensive summer school in Amalia, Italy, which concludes with an interesting looking conference. They also run a Postgraduate Certificate Program in Art Crime and Cultural Heritage Protection with a crack-team of expert lecturers which provides in-depth academic knowledge of cultural heritage crime.
From: Directed by Lynda Albertson, Dr. Edgar Tijhuis, Dr. Crispin Corrado, with many other domain experts as contributors.
Topics: Illicit Antiquities Trade, Cultural Heritage Crime, Academia
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Offering an extensive list of both online and in-house training courses including LLMs, foundation and preparatory courses as well as diplomas in art law, the IAL is a fantastic resource for furthering a career in the law side of cultural heritage. They also host an insightful blog, and offer regular news updates if you sign up for their newsletter, which you can do even if you are not a member.
From: Directed by Alexander Herman
Topics: Art Law
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With courses on an Introduction To Provenance Research, as well as Provenance Research: The Practical How-To Guide, or a bundle offer of both, Giovani’s trainings offer a comprehensive guide to becoming a provenance researcher. The courses are held online, and have a friendlier price point of entry.
From: Angelina Giovani
Topics: Provenance Research
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Preowned Past 