Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets

Welcome to the Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets – a space dedicated to the memory and preservation of part of the historical and artistic heritage that has been stolen or disappeared from its places of origin in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Each piece presented carries a unique story, marked by its inestimable value and the loss felt in our cultural heritage.
The collection is part of the Sondar Project – an initiative of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais launched in 2021. The project functions as a collaborative database that gathers photographs and records of sought-after cultural assets and represents an ongoing effort to combat the theft and disappearance of cultural assets in Brazil. Many of these assets have been missing for more than half a century, and their cataloging is the result of contributions from communities, institutions, and heritage protection agencies.
The goal of the digital exhibition is to mobilize global cooperation for the identification and
return of these items to their place of origin. Currently, the database already has more than 3,000 registered items, a number that continues to grow. Part of this collection is under investigation by the authorities, while other items are still awaiting recognition so that they can be returned.
To explore the complete database and contribute to the defense of Minas Gerais' cultural heritage, visit: sondar.mpmg.mp.br.