Kunsthaus Zurich launches new strategy on Nazi looted art
The Kunsthaus Zurich museum says it is strengthening its provenance research and giving itself more resources to deal with the problem of ill-gotten cultural property.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/jc
Italiano
it
La Kunsthaus di Zurigo lancia una nuova strategia sull’arte saccheggiata dai nazisti
“In future, the Kunsthaus Zürich will adopt a more proactive approach to works that, following in-depth research, may constitute cultural property confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution,” the museum said in a press releaseExternal link on Tuesday.
The new strategy includes “improved transparency” and an independent, international commission of experts to support provenance research. The museum says it is working for “just and fair solutions” where there are substantiated indications that works are held unlawfully.
It is giving priority on provenance research to its own collection and to new acquisitions. The Bührle Collection, which is on display in the Kunsthaus, is being analysed separately. Zurich historian Raphael Gross was recently appointed to evaluate the provenance research carried out to date by the Bührle Foundation, which owns the works. The results of this assessment are expected in spring 2024.
“The strategy we are presenting today establishes a clear framework for the challenges that lie ahead,’ said Philipp Hildebrand, chair of the Zurich art society that runs the museum.
The move comes after heated debate about the origin of 203 works of art on display at the Kunsthaus Zurich. The controversy is about the collector of the paintings: Emil G. Bührle, who died in 1956, funded his collection with arms sales – to Nazi Germany in particular. An independent panel of historians have called the situation at the Kunsthaus Zurich an “affront” to victims of Nazi looting.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
This content was published on
An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
Swiss money laundering office registers record number of reports
This content was published on
The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) registered a record number of reports of suspicious activity last year.
Two teens accused of planning terror attack released from custody
This content was published on
The Schaffhausen judiciary has released the two teenagers from custody who allegedly planned bomb attacks in Switzerland.
OECD: Sluggish economic activity slowing growth in Switzerland
This content was published on
Sluggish economic activity at the start of the year is weighing on growth in Switzerland, with GDP expected to fall to 1.1% in 2024.
Report finds mistakes which led to Swiss government data breach
This content was published on
Mistakes were made by both the government and internet company Xplain in the case of a criminal cyber-attack on the Bern-based IT business.
Swiss government wants better gender balance in federal administration
This content was published on
New Swiss government personnel management targets say there must be even more female managers in the federal administration.
Swiss national science foundation funded over 5,000 projects in 2023
This content was published on
In 2023, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) provided a total of CHF961 million worth of funding towards research projects.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Zurich looted art probe “hapless”, says Swiss expert
This content was published on
A Swiss art expert has slammed the investigation of suspected Nazi looted artworks in Zurich as “unprofessional” and “hapless”.
Switzerland mulls a commission to judge Nazi-looted art claims
This content was published on
The Swiss parliament is set to debate a new framework for handling claims for art looted from Jews by the Nazis or sold under duress.
Nazi-looted art: Zurich museum and foundation agree to more transparency
This content was published on
The Kunsthaus Zurich and the Bührle Foundation say they will disclose their contracts concerning the loan of 203 works of art.
An ‘affront’: researchers react to the Bührle Collection in the Kunsthaus Zürich
This content was published on
The Bührle collection and Kunsthaus Zurich face mounting pressure from organisations and researchers about an exhibition featuring Nazi-looted works.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.