As the illicit trade in art and antiquities continues to thrive in both licit and grey markets, the need for sharp, investigative methodologies has never been greater. OSINT — the practice of collecting and analysing publicly available data — has proven to be a powerful tool in tracing looted cultural objects, debunking false provenances, identifying stolen artworks in circulation, and documenting digital evidence for restitution claims.

The new series of challenges will simulate real-world provenance research and investigative tasks, encouraging participants to hone skills in geolocation, reverse image search, metadata analysis, social media tracing, and transaction monitoring — all in the context of cultural property crime. Whether you're a student, journalist, researcher, or investigator, developing OSINT fluency can enhance your ability to verify ownership histories, identify risk indicators, and contribute to more transparent, ethical collecting practices.

By partnering with Bellingcat, ARCA aims to not only raise awareness of the role of digital research in cultural heritage protection but also to build a community of problem-solvers committed to uncovering the hidden stories behind stolen art.

W£ant to try your hand?  The first of the challenges can be unlocked here. Will you be the one to crack the case?