The Winter School from the École du Louvre

The Winter School, based on the same concept as a Summer School, is an intensive educational program that is organized in Paris (France) and offered in English.

An instrument in the hands of art historians researching the History of collecting and of ownership of the most valued art objects for a long time, Provenance research has become in the last decade a tool and a method used by museums and heritage institutions worldwide and applied to all kind of collections. Issues such as authenticity and asserted ownership have been renewed and challenged by major ethical and historical questions related to the political and cultural contexts in which collections, mainly in Western countries, have been acquired, interpreted and displayed.

Recognizing the growing interest in this topic within the field of art history, the École du Louvre—which currently offers the only degree-awarding program in France devoted to this subject—has decided to organize a Winter School on this theme for the second consecutive year.

Building on the remarkable success of the first edition, which brought together students from Princeton, Yale, and Columbia Universities, as well as young professionals from Switzerland, Italy, Ukraine, and Indonesia, the 2026 edition promises to be even richer, more dynamic, and more inspiring.

Key features and objectives include:

The main objective is to equip a new generation of museum and heritage professionals with a comprehensive set of tools and body of knowledge relating specifically to collecting art objects, ensuring their lawful circulation and transfer, studying their archives and documentation and, ultimately, fostering robust scientific responses to issues and challenges – including ethical issues- posed by the global context.

The other global objectives are :

• Intensive learning: Enables participants to deepen their knowledge in a specific field over a short period of time.
• Skills development: Offers an opportunity to acquire or strengthen targeted academic, professional, or personal skills.
• Networking opportunities: Brings together participants from diverse backgrounds, fostering valuable connections with peers, instructors, and industry professionals.
• Exploration of new subjects: Encourages participants to discover areas of study they may not normally encounter during the academic year.

Under the academic supervision of:

• Dr. Catherine Chevillot, General Curator of Heritage and Head of the Provenance Project for the French Museums Department, French Ministry of Culture

• Isabelle Anatole-Gabriel, Associate researcher, École du Louvre, CYU ; former UNESCO civil servant

   

Maximum number of participants : 15

This introductory level program offers an overall view of provenance research. It is suitable for students and young professionals initiated in art history and/or law, both in museums, international institutions and on the art market.

The program also welcomes applicants with experience in the field, who are seeking to refresh their skills, and to gain concrete real-life applications.

This is an accredited program. Number of ECTS (European Credits Transfer system) : 6.

Students seeking credit are encouraged to consult their home institution to validate credit transfer.

For those who’d like to be assessed, should they provide: Individual summary of the essential elements on one of the topics covered in the intensive program, with additional research.

The fee for this program is : 1,500 euros.
When your application is accepted, an email will be sent to your email address to explain the payment process.

[email protected]