Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
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Conferences

Twenty-four conferences per year on the market, protection and law, with proceedings published within 90 days.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

Debating heritage issues

Scenes of Witchcraft: Day, Salvator Rosa (c. 1645–49)
Scenes of Witchcraft: Day, Salvator Rosa (c. 1645–49)

OIMAP conferences bring together experts, State representatives and professionals each year around a specific subject: market regulation, combating trafficking, digital certification, restitution.

They appear in the calendar. The proceedings are published in the Activities section.

  • Conferences
  • Proceedings
  • Replay

Conferences in figures

24Conferences per year
90 dPublication of proceedings
12 monthsFree replay (indicative)
3Interpretation languages

Source: OIMAP General Secretariat.

Breakdown

MarketData and regulation
ProtectionTrafficking, restitution
CertificationAuthenticity, digital
Training and lawPractices and standards

Indicative thematic breakdown.

How conferences work

A conference lasts half a day to a full day. It combines presentations, a panel discussion and a question session. The programme is published at least forty days before the date.

Each conference is placed under the responsibility of a directorate of the General Secretariat, which selects the speakers and guarantees the scientific quality of the content.

Bidri Hookah Bowl with Roses (c. 1650s)
Bidri Hookah Bowl with Roses (c. 1650s)
Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints Francis and Giovanni Gualberto, Benedetto Buglioni (c. 1510–20)
Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints Francis and Giovanni Gualberto, Benedetto Buglioni (c. 1510–20)
Lace Towel End (c. 1700s–1800s)
Lace Towel End (c. 1700s–1800s)

Topics covered

Topics are set each year by the Secretariat, after consulting the standing committees. They reflect the Organization's priorities: the digital market, provenance of works, restitution to communities of origin, customs training.

A conference may also present a newly published report and discuss its conclusions with its authors and practitioners.

Audience and access

Conferences are open to public officials, professionals, researchers and students. Depending on the room, the number of places may be limited. Remote access is offered for most sessions.

Registration is free for public officials and charged from €90 to €350 (indicative rates) for other participants.

Proceedings and replays

Papers are gathered into proceedings published within ninety days. Each conference is recorded and made available as a free replay for twelve months.

These resources are intended for a wide audience. They feed the Organization's video library and the OIMAP Academy training pathways.

Standard conference format

Indicative timeline
SessionIndicative durationContent
Opening15 minRemarks by the director concerned
Presentations2 hThree to four papers
Panel discussion1 hDebate among practitioners
Questions30 minExchanges with the audience
Closing15 minSummary and next steps

Milestones

  1. Programme

    Publication of the detailed programme.

  2. Documents

    Preparatory documents put online.

  3. Conference

    The meeting takes place.

  4. Proceedings

    Publication of the proceedings.

Registration required

Temple at Naveshera, Kashmir, India, Samuel Bourne (1864)
Temple at Naveshera, Kashmir, India, Samuel Bourne (1864)
Farmhouse on the Slope of a Hill, Fra Bartolommeo (c. 1508)
Farmhouse on the Slope of a Hill, Fra Bartolommeo (c. 1508)
Saint Mary Magdalen, Simon Vouet (c. 1630)
Saint Mary Magdalen, Simon Vouet (c. 1630)

Conference and seminar

Gathering among the Members of Office Censor-General (1700s)

Conference

Wide audience
  • Presentations and panel discussion
  • Open to all
  • Proceedings published

Information and debate.

Figure from a Crèche: Angel (1780–1830)

Seminar

Restricted audience
  • Group work
  • Regional dimension
  • Operational conclusions

Technical cooperation.

Attending a conference

  1. Choose the conference

    According to the theme.

  2. Register

    Online form.

  3. Attend

    On site or remote.

  4. Consult the proceedings

    After the meeting.

Before the conference

Glossary

Panel discussion
Debate among several speakers.
Proceedings
Collection of the papers of a meeting.
Scientific committee
Group of experts that selects the proposals.
Replay
Recording that can be viewed later.

Propose a contribution

Experts who wish to speak may send a proposal to the events team: a five-hundred-word abstract, a biography and a declaration of interests. Proposals are reviewed by a scientific committee.

Speakers are reimbursed according to an internal scale. The Organization does not pay fees for contributions.

Frequently asked questions

Are conferences interpreted?

Yes, in French, English and Spanish.

Where can I find the proceedings?

In the Activities section, within 90 days.

Can I speak?

Yes, on a proposal reviewed by a committee.

Where can I see the seminars?

Useful documents

Contacts

The Grotto of Posillipo, Hubert Robert (c. 1769)
The Grotto of Posillipo, Hubert Robert (c. 1769)
General SecretariatParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 00 00secretariat@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

View the seminars

Egypt & Nubia, Volume III, No. 8: Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo, Louis Haghe (1842–49)

The year's regional meetings.

Seminars
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