Research institutes

Maastricht Centre for Arts and Culture, Conservation and Heritage

The Maastricht Centre for Arts and Culture, Conservation and Heritage (MACCH) is an interdisciplinary research centre that brings together economic, legal, (art) historical, philosophical, sociological and practical expertise to the context of arts and heritage. In response to the demands of the increasingly complex challenges facing the fields of arts and heritage today, MACCH initiates collaborative research projects with researchers, professionals, and students from diverse backgrounds. MACCH is a joint effort of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Law, the School of Business and Economics, the Faculty of Science and Engineering (formerly Faculty of Humanities and Sciences), and the Sociaal Historisch Centrum voor Limburg (SHCL) and the Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL).

Fast facts

interdisciplinary centre for arts and heritage
collaboration of four faculties (law, economics, arts, and humanities)
cooperation with Sociaal Historisch Centrum voor Limburg and Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg
annual conference during TEFAF
Springer book series: Studies in Art, Heritage, Law and the Market
embedded in the region and operating on an international level
led by Dr Claartje Rasterhoff

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News

T. rex Fossils as Disruptive Objects - Article by Donna Yates & Emily Peacock

2 July 2024

Article "T. rex is Fierce, T. rex is Charismatic, T. rex is Litigious: Disruptive Objects in Affective Desirescapes" by Donna Yates and Emily Peacock presenting T. rex fossils as disruptive objects that can drastically influence the actions and reactions of humans that encounter them.
New project on the protection of archeological sites: REVITALISER, with Donna Yates

26 June 2024

The Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence (ECoE), a leading research institution based in Limassol (Cyprus) received funding under the Twinning Bottom-Up scheme of the EC WIDERA program for the innovative REVITALISER project. The REVITALISER project, titled “Preventive Protection of Archaeological Sites...
Christian Ernsten and Claartje Rasterhoff receive funding from CLICK NL for their REACCT research project on regenerative building practices

23 May 2024

Research, Education and Action Lab into Collective and Circular Transformation (REACCT) is a new research project (2024-2027) developed together with Huis Veendam-Dynaplak, a design and biochemical company that produces, recycles and designs with renewable materials.

More news items

Conservation of Contemporary Art: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

9 January 2024

As part of the Springer Book Series 'Studies in Art, Heritage, Law and the Market', the Open Access book 'Conservation of Contemporary Art: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice' , published by MACCH affiliated researchers Vivian van Saaze and Renée van de Vall, is now available.
22-24 August 2024: Historians' Days - Call for Proposals

28 November 2023

Together with the Royal Netherlands Historical Society (KNHG), Open University (OU) and Fontys (F), Maastricht University will organize the fourth edition of the Historians’ Days. The deadline for submissions in 31/01/24 (via www.historicidagen.nl)

Events

22 Aug 24 Aug

13:30 - 16:00

Historians’ Days 2024

Together with the Royal Netherlands Historical Society (KNHG), Open University (OU) and Fontys (F), Maastricht University will organize the fourth edition of the Historians’ Days.
04 Oct

09:30

Course: Sustainable Digital Heritage

In this science-based course, led by program director Prof. Dr. Johan Oosterman, we explore how heritage professionals can effectively respond to the digital revolution through three modules.

Overview of Past Events

In The Spotlight

Priceless

Crimes involving high-value unique goods, such as luxury items and works of art have evolved significantly: as opposed to forgery or theft, criminals now exploit luxury items by turning them into financial assets which are then used for laundering wealth, obscuring transactions and evading sanctions. To unpack how this process works and can be prevented, the transdisciplinary project PRICELESS has been launched, involving MACCH researchers dr. Christoph Rausch (project leader), dr. Donna Yates and dr. Rachel Pownall.

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PURE3D

The world has moved online, with entire repositories, archives and cultures now in the digital realm. PURE3D is a groundbreaking initiative that addresses challenges those working in Digital Humanities are currently facing by developing access infrastructure for viewing interactive Digital Heritage and Digital Humanities 3D content online. This project is led by MACCH researchers dr Costas Papadopoulos and prof dr Susan Schreibman.

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Rivier Atelier

Rivier Atelier is a newly funded research initiative by the Rijksdienst voor Cultureel Erfgoed and the Province of Limburg in collaboration with Natuurmonumenten, led by MACCH researchers Christian Ernsten and Claartje Rasterhoff. The project seeks to formulate nuanced landscape visions and heritage management strategies in response to the impact of climate change on watermill landscapes. Between 2023 and 2025, this initiative employs historical, archaeological and design research to examine the Geul River and its surrounding vicinities’ watermill landscapes.

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