Spoliation Advisory Panel: Pool of Experts

Timeline for this appointment

About the appointment

Appointment description

DCMS is seeking to appoint up to 6 new members to the Spoliation Advisory Panel, 2 of which will replace existing members who are stepping down.

The Spoliation Advisory Panel was established in 2000, and currently has ten members including two chairs and two vice-chairs. Having recently reviewed the Panel’s terms of reference and governance model, DCMS is looking to recruit a wider pool of experts with expertise covering a range of relevant areas and perspectives, to advise on a case by case basis.

The pool will expand the specialist expertise available to the Secretary of State on matters relating to spoliation; increase the Panel’s capacity to advise on such matters; and help to raise the Spoliation Advisory Panel’s profile both at home and internationally.

Panel description

The Spoliation Advisory Panel considers claims from anyone who lost possession of a cultural object during the Nazi era (1933-1945), or their heirs, and which is now held in UK national collections. It may on occasion also consider claims for items in private collections, when both claimant and owner agree. The Panel, designated by the Secretary of State, offers an independent recommendation to both the claimant and the institution on what would be an appropriate course of action to take in response to a claim. The Panel issues its advice on the basis of written exchanges between the parties, as an alternative to litigation.

Time commitment and remuneration

Spoliation Advisory Panel meetings take 2 forms:

• All members: general twice-yearly meetings convened by DCMS. These provide opportunities for information sharing and guest presentations on issues relating to spoliation and provenance more generally.
• Select members: meetings convened when a claim is presented. The number of meetings will depend on the frequency of claims but average around four meetings a year per claim, each lasting 2-3 hours. Prior to meetings there are papers to read relating to the claim, requiring additional preparation. Which members are asked to assist with a claim will depend on their expertise and the nature of the claim - not all pool members will be required for every claim.

Applicants are expected to commit to these requirements; wherever possible DCMS will accommodate virtual and in-person attendance. A daily honorarium is offered for panel meeting preparation and attendance, as well as any additional time spent on Panel business, alongside reimbursement for travel and subsistence at government approved rates.

Members will also be encouraged to support and raise the profile of the Spoliation Advisory Panel, both at home and internationally. This might include attending relevant conferences and lectures on behalf of the Panel, or through other networking opportunities.

Person specification

General skills and experience required

Essential criteria:

• An understanding of and a clear commitment to delivery of the Panel’s work
• Ability to contribute effectively to meetings and to offer clear, impartial and specialist advice
• Ability to consider large amounts of evidence and to assist in the production of clear and well written reports
• Strong inter-personal skills, including excellent communication and decision-making
• An ability to act as a credible, diplomatic advocate for the Panel

Although prospective Members will not be recruited through a formal public appointments process, they are expected to adhere to the seven Nolan Principles of public life and work to the highest professional and personal standards. As such, recruitment is subject to satisfying due diligence checks.

Additional / desirable criteria:

• Working knowledge and/or interest in the history of Europe from 1933-1945, and of the Holocaust
• Proficiency or working knowledge in written and spoken German and/or French
• Familiarity with legal issues relating to spoliation

Specific skills and experience required

We are looking to build a diverse Pool of Experts and actively encourage applicants from all over the UK with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and ages.

In order to ensure a balance of skills in the panel, applicants from the following professional backgrounds are especially encouraged:

• Academia, especially historians with demonstrable experience researching issues of provenance, and particularly Nazi-era spoliation. Social historians and those whose research focuses on material culture from this period are also encouraged to apply.
• Museums and galleries, especially those with collections and curatorial experience.
• The art market, especially those who possess an expert knowledge of art and cultural property, and experience researching provenance and object histories. Art market experts should be able to offer or obtain advice on auction sales both current and historical.
• Moral philosophers. The distinctive role of the moral expert on the panel is to be ready to provide relevant moral considerations regarding a claim, since there can be moral reasons for a decision that are not implicit in legal reasoning.

Application and selection process

Interested applicants are asked to submit a CV and a 750 word personal statement outlining how they meet the criteria above, by Friday 28th August at 11:59. Applications should be submitted to culturalpropertymailbox@dcms.gov.uk.

DCMS will be hosting an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by the Panel secretariat and will take place on 7th August at 14:00. The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role and to ask questions of existing panel members.

If you would like to attend the information session, please register your interest by filling out this Registration form by Monday 3 August and you will be sent an invitation to the session.

Please note that the session will not be recorded and will focus on the role rather than the recruitment process - please direct any queries on the process and timelines to the DCMS Cultural Property team at culturalpropertymailbox@dcms.gov.uk.