Events

Online Event on the Handling of Human Remains in German Collections

The German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts invites to an online event on 18 February 2026 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CET). The event focuses on an international exchange regarding the handling of human remains in German institutions that cannot be clearly attributed to a specific geographical origin. How should institutions proceed in these cases? What types of spaces or facilities are suitable for the medium- or long-term care and safekeeping of human remains with unresolved provenance? These questions will be discussed by experts from cultural and academic institutions in Germany and abroad. The event will be held in English.

Please note that registration for the event is open until 16 January 2026.
You can register using the following link:
https://www.cp3c.de/veranstaltungen/anmeldung_2026_02/

Network Conference "Collections from Colonial Contexts: Challenges, Tasks, Strategies"

Organized by the German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts

The online network conference "Collections from Colonial Contexts: Challenges, Tasks, Strategies" took place on November 24, 2020 within the framework of Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Its main aims were to present the German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts to European and international actors, to promote the networking of experts from Germany, Europe and the countries and societies of origin, and to identify and document future cooperation options for the German Contact Point. Further aims were also to identify the needs and interests of people and institutions in the countries and societies of origin and to create communication channels and facilitate encounters that enable a common dialogue characterized by mutual respect.

The conference focused on three areas of activity, as defined in the "Framework Principles for dealing with collections from colonial contexts", which are 1. Transparency and documentation; 2. Return, and 3. Cultural exchange and International Cooperation. In three thematic panels, participants from different regions of the world discussed measures, tasks and current challenges in dealing with collection from colonial contexts, shared practical experiences, and exchanged ideas about future cooperation perspectives. The recommendations for action that resulted from the discussions during the conference are a valuable contribution to overcoming the existing and future challenges and tasks of the German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts.

The video recordings of the Network conference can be accessed here.