U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield

U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield

@uscbs.bsky.social

USCBS is dedicated to preventing the destruction, damage and theft of cultural property during armed conflict and natural disasters. https://uscbs.org/

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U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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On Sept. 28, Russian drones struck Ukraine's Academy of Sciences, killing 2 and forcing others to flee. The Academy is the central scientific institution in Ukraine, overseeing a network of scientific research institutions and advising the government. www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/09/29/u...

theartnewspaper.comUkraine’s historic Academy of Sciences severely damaged by Russian droneAt least two were killed in the direct strike on the country’s top scientific institution, which is the latest cultural site to be targeted by Russian forces
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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"Culture may be one of the most effective tools for deepening U.S. engagement with the world—not because it projects power, but because it creates relationships, builds trust, and fosters collaboration." - Irina Bokova, www.basilinna.com/insights/cul...

basilinna.comCultural Diplomacy: The Soft Power That Crosses Borders — BasilinnaBy Irina Bokova, Executive Director As the United States approaches America 250, what opportunities do you see for culture to deepen U.S. engagement with the world? Where can culture have the greates...
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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Phoenician artifacts on display at the Arab World Institute in Paris highlight how modern conflict impacts #culturalheritage. Anne-Claire Legendre says the exhibit as a reminder of "our duty" to protect Middle Eastern heritage from "all forms of erasure." www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/w...

nytimes.comAncient Lebanese Treasures Take a Journey From Modern-Day ConflictArtifacts from Byblos have been on display in Paris in a show that highlights how modern-day conflict in the Middle East imperils the cultural heritage of the region.
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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11 members of the Russian armed forces have been notified of suspicion over the damage of cultural property in Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor General released the announcement, classifying their actions as war crimes under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. mezha.net/eng/bukvy/7e...

mezha.netUkraine Charges 11 Russians Over War Crimes Against Cultural Heritage | Ukraine news - #MezhaAncient artifacts from occupied Crimea reportedly entered Russia’s museum system after excavations damaged a site dating back to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This is reported by the Office...
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Wildfires in the Attica-Boeotia region in Greece brought some damage to the 4th C BCE Aigosthena fortress; however, fortunately, the overall damage was limited; regular vegetation clearing by the Ephorate of Antiquities of W Attica helped to protect the monuments. greekreporter.com/2026/08/06/a...

greekreporter.comAncient Fortress, Byzantine Monuments Survive Greece Wildfires With Minor Damage - GreekReporter.comAigosthena fortress near Porto Germeno, Greece escaped major damage from a four-day wildfire, though modern site infrastructure was affected.
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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A devastating 7.4 mag. earthquake struck W Colombia on Aug. 10. A spire of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary in Manizales fell to the ground, crumbling into rubble. Other structures across the country have been damaged and assessments are ongoing. www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/08/11/c...

theartnewspaper.comEarthquake damages Colombia’s tallest churchA 7.4-magnitude quake caused a tower to collapse at the beloved Manizales Cathedral
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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The Meroe pyramids are suffering rapid decline due to the war in Sudan. With preservation efforts halted, the already-fragile structures are now subject to windblown sand and encroaching vegetation, with reports of fallen stones and eroding ancient inscriptions. apnews.com/photo-galler...

apnews.comWar and accumulating sand threaten Sudan’s Meroe pyramids, in photosBEJRAWIYA, Sudan (AP) — Sudan’s ongoing war is threatening the integrity of its ancient Meroe pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique and angular architecture, as preservation effo...
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A recent Russian drone attack has destroyed the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in Beryslav, #Ukraine.  This 18th-century church in Kherson Oblast was the country's last remaining example of wooden Cossack architecture from that time. www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/08/05/r...

theartnewspaper.comRussian drone destroys unique 300-year-old wooden Cossack church in UkraineThe Holy Presentation Church is said by officials to be the last surviving building of its kind from the 18th century
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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Thousands of America's historic landmarks face significant wildfire risk, says new study by UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS). #culturalheritage #historicsites #wildfire news.ucsb.edu/2026/022719/...

news.ucsb.eduThousands of America's historic landmarks face significant wildfire riskResearchers at UCSB's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis assess the fire risk to thousands of America's beloved historic landmarks
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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A reminder that our 2026 Conference is fast approaching! Registration will open in the coming weeks and we will be sure to circulate #conference registration links and details. In the meantime, please be sure to mark your calendars: Thursday, September 17 at American University in Washington D.C.!

U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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As UNESCO's "Assessment of Living Heritage of Indigenous Community in Thame, Nepal, affected by GLOF" project comes to a close, it works to ensure that living heritage remains a part of Thame's long-term plans for resilience and management. www.unesco.org/en/articles/...

unesco.orgAfter catastrophe in the Himalayas, UNESCO and the Thame communityAfter a glacial lake outburst flood devastated the Himalayan village of Thame, Nepal, UNESCO partnered with local communities to safeguard living heritage at risk of being lost. By documenting
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield
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As a part of ICOM's Museums Connect Without Borders webinar series, the first session titled "Documentation Under Crisis" will be hosted on July 16. More information and links to registration for this webinar series are available here: icom-comms.mini.icom.museum/museums-conn...

icom-comms.mini.icom.museumMuseums Connect Without Borders - ICOM COMMSPersian VersionArabic Version   Mutual Learning, Solidarity and Professional Exchange Across Challenging Contexts Museum and heritage professionals working in contexts affected by conflict, sanctions,...
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Reuters has released a visual investigation special report about the damage to Iran’s historic sites. The extensive report includes quotes from USCBS President, Patty Gerstenblith, and discussions of Blue Shield initiatives. www.reuters.com/investigates...

reuters.comHow 5 weeks of war shattered some of Iran’s cherished monumentsThe air campaign across Iran damaged some of its most famous monuments, shattering glass and wood, and cracking walls and ceilings at UNESCO sites.
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The University for Continuing Education Krems is running a Certificate Program in Cultural Property Protection and Disaster Response through 2026-2027. The application deadline is July 31, 2026. More information can be found at: www.donau-uni.ac.at/en/studies/c...

donau-uni.ac.atCultural Property Protection and Disaster Response - Certificate ProgramCertificate Program, 2. Sem. berufsbegleitend – Steigen Sie in das internationale Netzwerk zum Thema Kulturgüterschutz und Sicherheit ein und lernen Sie, internationale Einsatzorganisationen in der Be...
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The Cultural Emergency Response (CER), with the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute-Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (MCI-SCRI) and with the support of the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, has published their “Supporting Heritage at Risk” manual. uscbs.org/cer-heritage...

uscbs.orgCultural Emergency Response Releases "Supporting Heritage at Risk: A Manual and Workshop Script for Heritage Proposal Writing" - US Committee of the Blue Shield
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A recent Hyperallergic article on the threats to Iranian cultural heritage includes comments by both Cori Wegener, founder of USCBS and current Board member, and Brian Daniels, Director of the Penn Cultural Heritage Center and USCBS Board member: hyperallergic.com/despite-unce...

hyperallergic.comDespite Uncertainty, Gulf Art World Projects NormalcyMany museums and galleries remain open and Art Dubai is rescheduled with cautious optimism, but experts warn of threats to cultural heritage.
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In an article published by the Associated Press on March 12, 2026, USCBS President, Patty Gerstenblith, comments on #culturalproperty protection during the current conflict and the importance of language surrounding rules of engagement: apnews.com/article/unes... #CPP

apnews.comDamage to historical sites in Iran raises alarm about war's impact on protected placesU.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least four cultural and historical sites across Iran.
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In a recent article published in The Times, experts warn that cultural institutions should maintain up-to-date emergency plans, and that those plans should recognize war as a potential risk. Read more in The Times online: www.thetimes.com/uk/history/a...

thetimes.comSpirit of the Blitz: how British museums are preparing for a new warCultural institutions are drawing up battle plans to save the nation’s treasures should conflict break out, with the help of blueprints from 80 years ago