Can Tech Protect the World's Art? – with Ana Ivanovic-Tongue

Could artificial intelligence become one of the world's greatest art detectives?
Behind every stolen masterpiece lies a story of mystery, organised crime and remarkable detective work.
Each year, priceless artworks disappear from museums, galleries and private collections around the world, fuelling a global black market worth billions. But as criminals become more sophisticated, so too do the technologies helping investigators fight back.
Join innovation researcher Ana Ivanovic-Tongue for a fascinating journey into the hidden world of art theft, where museum detectives, forensic experts and emerging technologies are working together to recover humanity's cultural treasures.
Blending gripping true stories with cutting-edge technology, Ana explores how artificial intelligence, image recognition and publicly available digital tools are transforming the search for stolen artworks—and why these innovations may have applications far beyond the art world.
No previous knowledge of art or technology is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to see the world from a new perspective.
Meet Ana Ivanovic-Tongue 🎨
Ana Ivanovic-Tongue has spent more than 25 years working across the arts, culture and innovation sectors. From international sculpture symposia and public art programmes to leading innovation in education at academyEX, she has built a career at the intersection of creativity and emerging technology.
Her recent research explores how artificial intelligence can help identify and recover looted cultural objects, bringing together art history, museum science and digital innovation in one of today's most unexpected applications of AI.
What We'll Explore
• The hidden global trade in stolen art and cultural treasures
• The remarkable true stories behind famous art thefts
• How organised crime profits from stolen artworks
• How artificial intelligence and image recognition are helping investigators recover missing pieces
• What emerging technology means for the future of protecting our shared cultural heritage
• Why preserving art matters and what we stand to lose if we don't
📍 Location: academyEX, Grafton
📅 Date: Thursday 29th October
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
☕ Refreshments: Tea and coffee included
🎟️ Tickets: $55 per person
👥 Hosted by Love Heart
Warm, welcoming learning experiences designed for people who enjoy discovering new ideas and meeting interesting people. Discover the fascinating stories behind today's biggest ideas while connecting with other curious minds.