News

After 55 years of championing the principles of authenticity and ethical ownership in the art world, the International Foundation for Art Research has made the difficult decision to begin winding down operations.

The change in leadership at the beginning of the year presented a vital opportunity to take a thorough and analytical look at IFAR’s ongoing operational and fiscal capacity. Following that six-month assessment of our programmatic activities and finances, we concluded that continuing our work is no longer feasible. This decision was not taken lightly — various restructuring scenarios and business models were considered, but it was clear that the only responsible option was to start down the path of closing.

“Since our inception in 1969, IFAR has been dedicated to advocating for the rightful ownership of cultural heritage, promoting transparency in the art market, and ensuring that works of art are recognized for their true origins and histories. Our efforts have sparked important conversations, driven meaningful change, and supported numerous initiatives that honor the integrity of artistic and cultural objects,” said Jennifer Schipf, Board Chair. “The Board brought on a new executive director to help us chart the optimal future for IFAR, and, ultimately, her insights and analyses made it clear to us all that the best course of action is to wind down.”

We are immensely proud of what IFAR has accomplished. From groundbreaking research to influential advocacy, our work has been a testament to the shared belief that art should be respected, authentically represented, and ethically owned. We are deeply grateful to all of you—our donors, partners, volunteers, and community members—who have supported us along the way.

As we prepare to close this chapter, we are focused on ensuring a thoughtful and responsible transition and one that celebrates and preserves IFAR’s legacy. We are mapping out a timeline for when IFAR will conclude its programmatic work and cease operations, which we anticipate will take place in mid-2025. In the meantime, we are committed to serving as a resource to the art community, continuing our new online education programs, and completing research projects that have been submitted to us to date. However, we will no longer publish the IFAR Journal or host IFAR Evenings, as we focus on re-homing our mission-related assets, including the Art Law Database, Catalogues Raisonnés Database, and our Institutional Archive.

Thank you for your support, your commitment to our work, and for being a vital part of IFAR’s story.