German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

Background

On 16 October 2019, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office for International Cultural Policy, the Cultural Affairs Ministers of the Länder, the Länder Senators for Cultural Affairs and representatives of the municipal umbrella organisations decided to establish a “German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts”. By doing so, they implement one of the priority measures of the “Framework Principles for Dealing with Collections from Colonial Contexts”.

On 14 October 2025 the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, the Cultural Affairs Ministers of the Länder and the municipal umbrella organisations agreed on the “Joint Guidelines for Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts”. These Guidelines expand on the “Framework Principles for Dealing with Collections from Colonial Contexts”. In accordance with the Guidelines, the Contact Point continues its work under the name “German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts”.

Responsibilities

The German Contact Point is primarily addressed to individuals and institutions from the countries and communities of origin. It is intended to serve as the first, central point of contact in Germany for all questions concerning cultural property and human remains from colonial contexts. In particular, the German Contact Point carries out the following tasks:

Providing information and advice on cultural property and human remains from colonial contexts in Germany and related topics
Forwarding of inquiries and requests on a case-by-case basis
Connecting individuals and institutions and establishing networks
Collecting, organising, documenting, publishing and evaluating statistically pertinent data and information
Supporting the Federal Government-Länder Working Group on Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts in Germany in the elaboration and further development of the areas of activities and overall objectives defined in the “Joint Guidelines for Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts”.

The remit of the German Contact Point covers cultural property and human remains from colonial contexts that are held in federal, state or municipal institutions. Privately held cultural property and human remains from colonial contexts do not fall within the Contact Point’s mandate. Nevertheless, as the first point of contact in Germany for all questions concerning cultural property and human remains from colonial contexts, the Contact Point can offer guidance to individuals and institutions with privately held cultural property and human remains from colonial contexts. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Organisation & Funding

The Cultural Foundation of the Länder serves as the administrative and organisational seat of the German Contact Point and forms a project consortium with the German Lost Art Foundation, the International Museum Cooperation Agency (planned and financed by the Federal Foreign Office) and the municipal umbrella organisations. Since its establishment in August 2020 until 2022, the German Contact Point was funded in equal parts by the Länder and the Federal Government. Since 2023, the German Contact Point has been financed exclusively by the Länder.

Serving as its central management and supervisory body, the Federal Government-Länder Working Group on Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts in Germany defines focal points and strategic objectives of the German Contact Point's tasks.

Please find here the detailed Concept on the establishment and organisation of a German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts.

Contact

German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts
c/o Kulturstiftung der Länder
Schloss Charlottenburg – Theaterbau
Spandauer Damm 10, 14059 Berlin
E-Mail: contactpoint[at]kulturstiftung.de

Team

Prof. Dr. Frank Druffner
Director
German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

María Leonor Pérez Ramírez
Deputy Director
German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

Leandra Bitahwa
Research Associate, Project Coordinator
German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

EMail: l.bitahwa[at]kulturstiftung.de
Telephone: +49 (0) 30 89 36 35 40

Kimberly Tanzius
Project Assistant
German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

EMail: k.tanzius[at]kulturstiftung.de
Telephone: +49 (0) 30 89 36 35 50

Projects on Dealing with Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

Laura Brandt
Project Coordinator, Project Developer
Projects on Dealing with Human Remains from Colonial Contexts
German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

EMail: l.brandt[at]kulturstiftung.de
Telefon: +49 (0) 30 89 36 35 67

Ammar Awaniy
Project Assistant
Projects on Dealing with Human Remains from Colonial Contexts
German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

EMail: a.awaniy[at]kulturstiftung.de
Telephone: +49 (0) 30 89 36 35 62