Germany and France Strengthen Cultural Cooperation with Joint Provenance Research Fund

Each country will annually contribute up to 360,000 euros for this purpose. The goal is to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of provenance research for cultural artifacts from Sub-Saharan Africa.

German Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth stated, "A significant portion of Sub-Saharan Africa's cultural heritage remains outside of their respective countries of origin and regions, with much of it housed in European collections. With the German-French Provenance Research Fund, we are entering a new phase in addressing this historical injustice. We aim to enhance networking at the European level to facilitate knowledge transfer regarding the current state of research and available data for cultural institutions. Additionally, we are creating a broad framework for cooperation with the origin regions in Sub-Saharan Africa through this fund. At its core, there will be a scientific advisory board with equal representation from France, Germany, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Together, we are taking responsibility for cultural assets that still hold significant symbolic, artistic, and historical value for the origin societies, paving the way for equitable cultural relations between Europe and partner countries in Sub-Saharan Africa."

Germany and France had initially agreed on the basic principles of a joint provenance research fund in January 2023 on the 60th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty in Paris.

French Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak commented on the meeting's outcomes, saying, "I am delighted with the establishment of the German-French provenance research fund. This is a significant step forward. It will help us better understand the origins of cultural artifacts in our museums, prepare for future restitutions, and foster new relationships with the African continent. I hope that other European countries will join this initiative."

Image :German Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth