ICCROM is shocked and saddened by the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, and extends its heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with Parisians, the French people and the Catholic Church at this tragic time. It is a terrible loss for the world.

On 11 April 2019, the Annual Donor’s Meeting for the World Heritage Leadership Programme took place at the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Oslo, Norway.
The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment hosted the donor’s meeting this year together with ICCROM, IUCN and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren).

In September 2018, Alain Godonou, a long-time ICCROM collaborator, was appointed Director of the Museums Programme of the Agence Nationale de promotion des Patrimoines et du Tourisme (ANPT) of Benin. This position is attached to the Presidency of the Republic.

Fire is a major hazard affecting cultural heritage assets around the world. Although it may seem a ‘rare event’ from a single institution’s perspective, large fires can become routine when considering the total heritage of a nation. Furthermore, their impact is typically catastrophic, causing total or almost total loss in the affected cultural property.

ICCROM-Sharjah, in partnership with the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA) in Lebanon, is organizing a field school on the conservation of mosaics in-situ in Byblos, Lebanon.

World Heritage Site managers from across the globe are invited to participate in this year’s Forum, aimed at continuing to empower World Heritage Site Managers on the international stage. Participants from all natural, cultural and mixed World Heritage properties may apply. This year's forum will continue to be organized jointly with the IUCN-ICCROM World Heritage Leadership Programme, to address the capacity building needs of site managers worldwide.

Alejandro Flores (born 1940 in Guatemala) attended the ICCROM Architectural Conservation course in 1971. He shared this extraordinary experience with Roberto Marta†, Gaël de Guichen, and Jukka Jokilehto, with whom he remained friends for almost half a century. Alejandro passed away on 16 February 2019.

ICCROM-Sharjah, in partnership with the Arab Administrative Development Organization of the League of Arab States, organized a four-day workshop on Conservation of Documentary Heritage in the period between 4 to 7 March 2019 in Sharjah, UAE.

Authenticity is a nebulous term within the conservation profession. The concept has historically tended to privilege materials-based approaches to conservation practice over recognizing spiritual and non-material values of a place, however, the drafting of the Nara Document in 1994 marked a shift in paradigm. Considered an important moment in the history of conservation, the Document expanded the concept of authenticity and drew attention to cultural diversity within the heritage discourse.

On 14 March, a group of students from the Master's Programme on Cultural Heritage Management at the University of Zaragoza, Spain, visited ICCROM. They were led by Professors Carmen Morte, Pilar Biel, and Ascensión Hernández.