ICOM UK is shocked by last week’s missile strike on the British Council and European Union office buildings in Kyiv. A British Council security guard was injured and required treatment in hospital; we understand from conversation with our British Council partners that all other staff in the city are safe.
ICOM UK has worked closely with the British Council on a number of collaborative international projects for many years. We share a common goal of using cultural heritage to maintain and improve international relations, with ICOM acting as a global forum for museum professionals to foster mutual understanding across cultures. This is especially important during times of armed conflict, and ICOM members have demonstrated time and again across the world how valuable museums are in bridging divides. We stand in solidarity with our British Council colleagues in this especially difficult time.
