History
The Art Sanctions database (the "Database") is an evolving public resource developed by an international collaboration of experts, researchers, and cultural practitioners. It is based on the work of art and tech sector colleagues who launched the 2023 pilot version spearheaded by Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP). One of the central outcomes of that collaboration was the creation of the War & Art section on the War & Sanctions portal — a public-facing database of stolen Ukrainian cultural heritage and luxury and art holdings linked to individuals under sanctions.Following the 2024 relaunch of the War & Sanctions portal on the platform of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Stolen Heritage section there continues to feature updated datasets, aimed at identifying and aiding the recovery of Ukrainian cultural property. This Art Sanctions database deals with art and other collectible assets owned by sanctioned individuals. It is maintained and expanded by an independent network of Ukrainian and international partners as part of broader efforts to prevent illicit art trade and ensure accountability for the aggression against Ukraine.This updated and revised Art Sanctions database lists art and other collectibles currently or formerly owned by sanctioned persons to alert art market participants in case of attempted transactions. Violations of sanction regimes are actionable and may result in criminal prosecution as well as seizure and forfeiture of property. As verified public source information about art ownership becomes accessible, property owned by sanctioned parties can be identified and denied circulation, thereby helping the art market remain compliant with international sanctions regimes and avoid trading in restricted assets.The initiative has already contributed to some outcomes, including the November 2024 UK policy update requiring art market actors to report suspected sanctioned assets to OFSI. An academic milestone was the publication on 13 November 2024 of the article "War, Art, and Sanctions: Social Network Analysis on the NACP's Databases of Sanctioned Russian Individuals and Art Collectors" in a peer-reviewed journal.Art Sanctions database provides members of the international art market — dealers, shippers, advisors, appraisers, and conservators — a platform to share information on objects and other collectibles linked to sanctioned individuals. Actionable contributions will be integrated into the Database to prevent circulation of sanctioned objects until they can be lawfully recovered or handled.The initiative's team also welcomes feedback to adapt the functionality of the database to the needs of art market actors, including compliance tools, registries, and training. Suggestions can be submitted online or by writing to contact@sanctions.art. Together, we can prevent the misuse of art for financial crimes and military aggression, and support the recovery of cultural heritage as part of Ukraine's resilience.
Examining the art collections of sanctioned individuals helps us understand a crucial mechanism for accountability: economic sanctions can serve as a powerful tool to challenge those who believe their wealth places them above consequences, especially when they support acts of aggression.