The Freer Research Center at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art and the Zentralarchiv and Museum für Asiatische Kunst (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin) of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz are pleased to host our second in-person symposium dedicated to the provenance of Asian art, November 11–13, 2026, on Museum Island in Berlin, Germany.
Join an international community of scholars and professionals for a three-day gathering to share new and ongoing research, explore current challenges, and reflect on the evolving state of the field of Asian art provenance research. We invite both early career and established scholars from a range of disciplines to attend, including museum and archive professionals, provenance researchers, collectors, and independent scholars, among others.
This year’s theme, Sharing Stories, Building Connections, highlights the collaborative nature of provenance work. Through panels, workshops, and small group discussions, participants will connect with peers, engage with key research resources, refine methodologies, and consider how provenance histories may be communicated to broader audiences.
The symposium is part of a larger collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz that seeks to cultivate a global network of provenance researchers and promote exchange. Previous collaborative programs include Unpacking Provenance: Retracing the Histories of Asian Art (2025–present), Hidden Networks: The Trade of Asian Art (2020–2022), and Provenance of Asian Art: A Collaborative Workshop and Symposium (2023).
Day 1: Panels, workshop, and reception
Wednesday, November 11, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Day 2: Panels, share fair, and workshop
Thursday, November 12, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Day 3: Special program, panel, and forum
Friday, November 13, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Hosted by the Zentralarchiv and Museum für Asiatische Kunst (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin) of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin, Germany
Organized in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC, USA
Generous support for this symposium is provided by the Macaulay Family Foundation.