Alhambra Palace - Granada
Alhambra Palace - Granada

The Second World War claimed more lives than any other war in history and obliterated a great deal of cultural property that defined the communities in which they were erected. This included many historic cities of Europe.

In its aftermath, the world needed a technical institution dedicated to preserving, protecting and restoring what humanity had destroyed. In response, UNESCO created ICCROM and chose Rome as its headquarters. As home to ICCROM and as a beneficiary of its earliest efforts, Europe is a region with which the organization has always had close ties, and which has also had an important role to play in the conservation sector.

Sixty years later, humanity is faced yet again with large-scale and catastrophic developments – mass displacement of people, entrenched conflict, harshening climate. All are challenging cultural heritage preservation. Europe is again in a positon to both benefit from and serve ICCROM’s efforts. This is not only because these demographic, political and climatic forces are playing out within or near its borders, but also because Europe is able – and therefore responsible – to play a more universal role in enacting change.

ICCROM is eager to engage with a Europe that leverages everything from its resources, to experience and diplomatic know-how to model inclusive and engaged societies. Europe can take the lead in truly integrating refugees who come in search of safety, embracing the cultures they bring and incorporating them into Europe’s own. Europe can show how caring for culture is caring for people as heritage congregates and generates cohesion, understanding and even economic opportunity. And when Europe extends this work beyond its borders, it can demonstrate how the returns on cultural diplomacy are more stable, inclusive and just nations – indeed, a better world.

Featured

GREEN LAB 2018 – Laboratory of green methods and products for the restoration of cultural heritage

Green Lab 2018

The 2018 edition of Green Lab will show “Green” methods and solutions, both innovative and ready to use, for cultural heritage restoration. The aim of the course is to give insight into use of these materials and methods by professionals, especially restorers, in order to: observe the applicability, efficiency and effectiveness of the solutions presented; discuss the advantages and limitations...

Valerie Magar and Anait Abramyan

New Staff Members

Valérie Magar (Mexico), Rohit Jigyasu (India) and Anait Abramyan (Russian Federation) have joined ICCROM as staff members.

Mora Sample Collection thumb

Mora Sample Collection: Promotional Video

This short video offers a glimpse inside the ICCROM Mora Sample Collection, to share with you the findings of a new project launched in early 2018, and see the project team at work. The Mora Sample Collection is an important archive of historic wall paintings samples and fragments collected from heritage sites from around the world.

Nordic-Baltic Course on World Heritage Procedures

World Heritage Leadership - Nordic-Baltic Course on World Heritage Procedures

On 24-28 September 2018, ICCROM, IUCN, and ICOMOS jointly delivered a course for participants from all the Nordic and Baltic countries on the specific procedures and structures of the World Heritage Convention. The course was generously hosted by the city of Bergen on the premises of the University of Bergen.

Gaël de Guichen’s Archive Donation

Gaël de Guichen’s Archive Donation

On 10 October 2018, ICCROM’s Director General, Webber Ndoro, and Gaël de Guichen signed an agreement for the donation of Mr. de Guichen’s archive to ICCROM. The aim is to ensure both conservation and access to researchers of these valuable records.

Community and Heritage: a public consultation campaign for Lake Ohrid

Community and Heritage: a public consultation campaign for Lake Ohrid

The Lake Ohrid region is home to one of the world’s oldest lakes and is one of Europe’s most important biodiversity hotspots. The surrounding region is also significant for its cultural heritage within and linked to the natural setting.

Villa Adriana 1

Advisory Bodies Networking Activity

A World Heritage Leadership Programme Activity took place at ICCROM from 4 to 6 September 2018. The Advisory Bodies Networking Activity provided a capacity building opportunity to the Advisory Bodies experts who are involved in the evaluation and monitoring missions of various sites, to exchange knowledge and newly developed ideas for effective management of heritage, which could be applied when...

Visit: Embassy of Monaco

Visit: Embassy of Monaco

On Wednesday 8 August, ICCROM received the visit of Martine Garcia-Mascarenhas, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Monaco in Italy, with her colleague Maria Concetta Scioscia of the Embassy of Monaco.

egyptian-heritage-rescue-team_-cairo-museum

Rescuing heritage in a disaster - #CultureCannotWait

The latest edition of ICCROM’s flagship First Aid to Cultural Heritage (FAC) course has kicked off in Brabant, Netherlands. The course, held on 6 – 24 August 2018, will train 24 heritage and first response professionals from 23 countries to be “cultural First Aiders,” skilled at the protection of cultural heritage in emergency situations. Course modules will address topics such as prevention, safe...

PROMEDHEX 2018 in Lucca, Italy

PROMEDHEX 2018 in Lucca, Italy

On 19-21 June, ICCROM participated in a disaster simulation exercise for salvage of cultural heritage, held in Lucca, Italy. The exercise was part of a multi-year initiative organized by the Italian Civil Protection Department under PROMEDHE, an EU funded project also involving the civil protection authorities of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan and Palestine.