Press releases

ICOMOS and ICCROM undertook a joint mission to Ukraine from 9 to 16 July 2022 in order to provide support to the efforts made by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, as well as heritage organisations and professionals in the country, in the current conflict situation. The purpose of the mission was to assess the damage caused to cultural heritage, to identify immediate needs, and to offer technical assistance for the preparation of a systematic and coordinated national strategy for first aid interventions and recovery planning of cultural heritage.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture has concluded the Industrial Heritage Program, a specialized training workshop, as part of the Experts Program. Sixteen participants from the Kingdom came together for the two-week course, held from 12 to 23 June 2022, to broaden their understanding of basic concepts and methodologies of Industrial Heritage, along with mechanisms and frameworks related to its cataloging and documentation.

Contrary to popular belief, digital data can be vulnerable. Specific skills and knowledge are required to ensure the continued accessibility of born-digital and digitized heritage. Growing volumes of content, as well as proprietary and changing technologies, has made this work more complex.

Tackling this issue, ICCROM – known worldwide for its pioneering research and capacity development in the field of heritage conservation – will launch the Sustaining Digital Heritage (SDH) programme: a new initiative to safeguard heritage in the digital domain, created in collaboration with the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision (NISV) and AVP, an information innovation firm based in the United States.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Regional Office for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage in the Arab States (ICCROM - Sharjah) is organizing a special ceremony to announce the winning projects of the third cycle of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region (2021-2022), and the second cycle of the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for the Young. The event will be organized over two days during the period from 1 to 2 June 2022 in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

ICCROM, in partnership with the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and the Government of the Republic of South Africa, will commemorate Africa Day 2022 by reflecting and taking action to support and advance the protection and promotion of Africa’s heritage. 

From 20 to 25 May, 25 young people from 17 African countries will come together to gain knowledge, skills and experience in protecting and managing cultural heritage. The African World Heritage Young Leaders Workshop – to take place in Cape Town and Robben Island, South Africa – aims to nurture young Africans’ leadership skills  to support the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and sustainable development efforts in Africa.

Under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah, ICCROM-Sharjah announced the shortlisted projects nominated for the third cycle of its biannual “Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region” (2021-2022).

The Soft Power Club, an international association founded by Francesco Rutelli will meet in Venice for its first public event. The proceedings will be opened by a message from the President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella. (Press release in Italian)

ICCROM, through its Regional Conservation Office in Sharjah (UAE), will provide a two-year capacity building programme for professionals and craftspeople to contribute to the reconstruction of Mosul’s Old City. This programme is possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the European Union and is part of the UNESCO initiative to Revive the Spirit of Mosul.

A fire, a flood, a storm surge. A hail of bullets, or an exploding projectile. Collateral and deliberate damage. All these pose an immediate threat to people and heritage, whether monumental building, tangible cultural object or intangible cultural custom. In an emergency, both life and way of life require fast-responding expertise. Enter the Eighth International Course on First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAC), organised by The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and its partners the Swedish Postcode Foundation (SPF), the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (SCRI), and the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development.