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

RE-ORG Catalonia

Catalan museums ready to embrace RE-ORG

In a first for Catalonia, 25 museum professionals from some of the main institutions and networks responsible for preventive conservation in the region have been trained in the RE-ORG Method, working together to reorganize storage at the Víctor Balaguer Library Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú. In just five days, the group managed to move around 5 000 pieces across eight rooms, securing these...

Visit: Centre for Critical Heritage Studies, Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Visit: Centre for Critical Heritage Studies, Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

On 29 November the Director-General, Webber Ndoro met with Ola Wetterberg, Director of the Centre for Critical Heritage Studies, Department of Conservation at the University of Gothenburg and member of the ICCROM Council. Also in attendance were José Luiz Pedersoli, Manager of the Strategic Planning Unit and Valerie Magar, Manager of the Programmes Unit.

The Director-General at the conference in Teramo

Africa and Europe unite to build a future together

Director-General Webber Ndoro expressed the need to support ‘digital transformation’ across Africa at the Third Conference for a Euro-African Academic Partnership in Teramo, Italy earlier this month, joining delegates from African and European universities and international organizations to promote academic cooperation and socio-economic integration for young people.

FAC PORTUGUESE

ICCROM’s pioneering resource on First Aid to Cultural Heritage now in Portuguese

With the aim of breaking language barriers and providing knowledge where it is most needed, ICCROM is pleased to announce the release of the Portuguese translation of its pioneering resource, the First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis Handbook and its Toolkit. The translations were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the coordination of...

The RE-ORGanization of museum storage becomes a reality in Emilia-Romagna

The RE-ORGanization of museum storage becomes a reality in Emilia-Romagna

After the success of the first three modules of RE-ORG Emilia-Romagna in Italy, held online from 26 April to 3 June 2021, the fourth phase from 4 to 8 October has now kicked off. This activity will involve on-site practice for implementing a reorganization plan using the civic museums of Modena and Cento as case studies.

PATH – Outil d’évaluation de la consolidation de la paix pour la récupération et la réhabilitation du patrimoine

A tool for peacebuilding: PATH now available in French

With the aim of breaking language barriers and fostering peaceful societies, ICCROM is pleased to announce the release of the French version of PATH: Peacebuilding Assessment Tool for Heritage Recovery and Rehabilitation.

Soft Power Conference II

Culture and environment at the heart of sustainable recovery

After the success of last year's inaugural Soft Power Conference, the second edition was held on 30 and 31 August 2021, with our Director-General Webber Ndoro, a member of the Soft Power Club, representing ICCROM at the event in Venice, Italy. The members of the club are strong proponents of multilateral dialogue and collaboration as a means for nations to promote their interests, in what is the...

Endangered Heritage: Emergency Evacuation of Heritage Collections

Emergency evacuation guidelines now available in German

With the aim of breaking language barriers and providing knowledge where it is needed most, ICCROM and Blue Shield Germany have released a German version of the pioneering online resource, Endangered Heritage: Emergency Evacuation of Heritage Collections, developed in partnership with UNESCO.

RE-ORG Kit

RE-ORG Method now available in Dutch!

ICCROM and FARO are pleased to announce the release of the Dutch translation of the RE-ORG Method. From today, you can access online everything you need in seven different languages to set up your own storage RE-ORGanization project.

A Message to our Member States currently affected by wildfires

A message to those countries currently affected by wildfires

ICCROM is deeply saddened by the loss of lives and extensive damage, including to heritage both natural and cultural, resulting from the catastrophic wildfires currently raging in many parts of the world.