Innovation and Best Practice for International Standards on Sculpture Study and Management

ended

The main goal of this project is to significantly contribute to the study and management of sculpture at an international level. The strategic objective is to enhance visibility of sculpture and the professionalization of this artistic sector through the creation of a dedicated European network. This will allow to learn from each other’s experiences, and to share the results with a wide range of stakeholders. To achieve this, we aim to create a set of international standards to identify sculptural works of art. According to specific literature and evidence, the difficulties in the labelling of artworks of a reproducible nature are arising in multiple contexts. The purpose is to establish a proper taxonomy to identify the concise nature of a every work of this kind. These standards have been lacking to the date in Europe. They would be helpful to frame the works of a wide range of artists, mainly sculptors. It cannot be excluded that they could also benefit the work of further three-dimensional creators. Furthermore, they would be equally applicable to the works of deceased or living artists, from the mid-19th century onwards. The creation of a guideline of this genre would absolutely help both the catalogue of works already completed, as well as the labelling of forthcoming sculptures, editions, or reproductions. These standards will be developed transnationally from the outset, according to the specific legal provisions of a selected number of European member states. In addition, they will be conceived to be implemented in newest technologies associated with digital transformation, mainly blockchain. This project is led by the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí in Figueres (Spain), and our partners are the mumok in Vienna (Austria) and CBM & Partners Studio Legale, in Milano (Italy). We also count on the advice of two associated partners: the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid (Spain) and the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds (United Kingdom).