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.

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RE-ORG workshops are back in-person!

Field note: RE-ORG workshops are back in-person!

After two years of being restricted to virtual events, in-person RE-ORG workshops are back. The resumption of in-person RE-ORG training kicked off in Slovenia in March 2022, organized by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Slovenia.

Resolution of the ICCROM Council on Ukraine

Resolution of the ICCROM Council on Ukraine

This resolution was adopted by Council on 4 May 2022 by the following vote: 14 yea votes, 0 nay votes, and 11 abstentions.

Protecting endangered heritage in Ukraine

Protecting endangered heritage in Ukraine

Workshop on Post-Event Damage and Risk Assessment for Cultural Heritage - ICCROM through its flagship programme on First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR), in partnership with the Maidan Museum and the Heritage Emergency Response Initiative (HERI), organized a two-day online workshop on developing a collaborative damage and risk assessment methodology for heritage...

Visits from representatives of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Visits from representatives of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

On Tuesday 19 April, the Director-General, Webber Ndoro was honoured to meet with H.E. Mr Ričardas Šlepavičius, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania, H.E. Mrs Solvita Āboltiņa, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia, and Mrs Anne Mardiste, Counsellor Embassy of Estonia.

Protecting Cultural Heritage in Ukraine

Protecting Cultural Heritage in Ukraine

ICCROM expresses its growing concern about the ongoing impact of the conflict in Ukraine for both its people and its cultural heritage, and has been active according to its mandate in supporting heritage professionals to protect the heritage in this difficult period.

San Francisco Church, Antigua, Guatemala

Developing practice-led research in the Heritage Place Lab

Research-practice teams from eight World Heritage properties across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America joined the pilot phase of this unique online incubator last year. Now they are preparing their practice-led research agendas, with plans to publish their insights and achievements.

Visit from Director General for the promotion of the Italian culture and language

Meeting with representatives of Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy (MAECI)

On 10 March 2022, ICCROM's Director-General, Webber Ndoro had the honour of welcoming Alessandro De Pedys, Deputy Director General/Principal Director for the promotion of the Italian culture and language for the Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). Deputy Director General De Pedys was accompanied by Paolo...

Visit from U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome

Visit from U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome

On 3 March 2022, ICCROM had the honour of welcoming Ambassador Cindy McCain, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, who presented her credentials to Director-General, Webber Ndoro.

ICCROM call for protecting heritage

ICCROM call for protecting heritage

Since ICCROM was created in 1956, it has endeavored to work with its Member States to improve the conservation of cultural heritage. Heritage has a fundamental role to play in the sustainable development of our societies. In a world increasingly subjected to challenges due to natural hazards and conflicts, ICCROM calls for the respect and protection of culture, cultural heritage and related...

Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco

Meeting with representatives of Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco

On 9 December 2021, ICCROM Director-General Webber Ndoro, Liaison Officer Anna Zeichner and Director of Partnership and Communication Joseph King met Ms Carlotta Del Bianco, Vice President of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, and Mr Simone Giometti, Secretary General of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation.