ICOM Hungary is pleased to announce its participation in PRISM – Prevention, Research, Investigation and Security in Museums, a three-year international initiative coordinated by the Heritage Protection Department of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Paris.
The PRISM project unites national committees of ICOM Estonia, ICOM Hungary, ICOM Latvia, ICOM Lithuania, ICOM Slovakia, ICOM Ukraine, along with the National History Museum of Romania (NHMR).
Its overarching aim is to develop new practical tools and methodologies that improve the understanding and prevention of the illicit trafficking of cultural goods across Europe.
Background of the PRISM Project
The project is funded by the European Union, through the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission.
PRISM seeks to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage by supporting museums and collection-holding institutions in identifying risks, addressing vulnerabilities, and enhancing preventive measures against illicit trafficking.
Activities Led by ICOM Hungary
Within the framework of the PRISM project, ICOM Hungary will coordinate three major activities:
1. Publication: Cultural Property Safeguarding Plan
An online publication will be created as an operational tool to support professionals in their daily work.
This specialised resource—designed for museum and cultural heritage experts, law-enforcement bodies, and the wider public—will provide practical information and methodologies.
The publication will consist of two main parts:
2. Workshops
A series of workshops will accompany the development of the publication, bringing together Hungarian and international experts. These sessions aim to identify the widest possible range of challenges and provide effective, well-founded responses. The international dimension is particularly important, as Hungary lies in the heart of Europe, at the meeting point of East and West and on one of the external borders of the Schengen Area. As a result, the illicit trafficking of artworks presents both internal and external risks—further intensified today by the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
3. Exhibition: Treasures from the Underworld (working title)
The planned exhibition will present the “underworld stories” of artworks recovered over the past decade through successful cooperation with law-enforcement authorities. The exhibition aims to raise awareness of the severe damage caused by illicit art trafficking and illegal archaeological excavations, highlighting the importance of coordinated action and preventive measures.
For further information
About the PRISM project: heritage.protection@icom.museum
About the programme in Hungary: icom.mnb@gmail.com
EU Funding Disclaimer
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
