Collecting

Private Individuals who wish to bequeath collections, rarely get a response from heritage foundations.

PACE, the  Papua Heritage Foundation, does respond and can accept and manage the collections because of the following objective:  In the long term, PACE intends to repatriate the material to Papua.

PACE also keeps in contact with Dutch Museums which in time may need to dispose off part of their Papua collection. 

The Foundation does not only collect tangible artefacts but also information about specific artefacts, photos, films and documentation. 

If private individuals are not (yet) ready to transfer their collection, PACE can describe it and record  this information on its database. 

Telling the unknown stories 

Unlocking largely unknown stories and  historical events, leads to a more complex  historical interpretation and a growing awareness of a shared history which exists between the Netherlands and Papua today.  

Very little real content is taught in Dutch Education about the former Dutch colony of Papua New Guinea, despite the recently installed canon law that Papuans are to be publicly named and recognized.