This article was first posted by the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and and Artistic Works
This is a short overview of what we know so far, and what the cultural heritage community is doing in Ukraine itself, and internationally to safeguard the lives of museum and heritage workers – and where possible collections and historic sites.
Speed of conflict– the beginning
An article originally published in the New York Times points to museums being taken by surprise by the start of the conflict. Director of the Museum of Freedom, Ihor Poshyvailo says that by the time he considered evacuating prized objects, the roads were already clogged with refugees. In any case, with Ukraine’s vast size, thousands of museums and population of 44 million, removing objects from war zones is only going to be a solution in a minority of cases.
As the first week of the war progressed, it became obvious that placing objects in basements has been the main practical intervention for many. In a twitter thread, Swedish archaeologist Asa M Larsson quotes from a letter from Dr Fedir Androshchuk, Director of National Museum of Ukraine, giving a snapshot of the risks many are taking:
“There are established instructions, dating to Soviet times, on what museums should do in case of armed conflict – to take down and hide objects in a certain order of priority and documentation. The problem is how to do all this with a lack of time and resources. You cannot force employees to come in and work under such circumstances. Many are fleeing with their families. But I am very proud of my colleagues. Many of them came to the museum and helped to dismantle the permanent exhibition, pack objects, and store them in the basement. After this, two archaeologists and two young historians, my young colleagues, headed straight to the front.”
Loss of the Ivankiv Museum of Local History
The small Museum of Local History in Ivankiv, near Kyiv has been burned down by Russian action. It contained 25 works by Ukranian folk artist Maria Prymachenko, and much of the museum’s collection has reportedly been destroyed. The Times says that a few were saved by the bravery of a local man who ran into the burning museum:
“He was on the street. When he saw the smoke from the museum he ran, broke the museum window and went into the fire. He couldn’t take everything out but he knew the most famous paintings were by Prymachenko. Since he only had a few minutes, he just took these paintings, and a few other works of art.”
Days later, a missile which killed five and seemed aimed primarily at Kyiv’s broadcasting infrastructure also damaged the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial. Whether as targets or collateral damage, cultural heritage is therefore already in the line of fire.
Many of those who care for collections are also concerned about the possibility of looting (Fedir Androshchuk and colleagues are currently living in their museum in the hope of deterring this risk) – and that some collections based around the politics and sovereignty of Ukraine may be particular targets.
The response from museums and cultural bodies in Eastern Europe
Others have been forced to flee their country – particularly to Poland, where, as Museums Journal described in detail, a well organised response from museums and ICOM Poland has been arranging everything from shelter for people to the possible evacuation of collections.
The National Museum in Warsaw is co-ordinating work to welcome families of employees of the National Gallery of Art in Lviv, and other museums are working on refugee programmes, or sending supplies into Ukraine. ICOM Poland is working on a plan to evacuate museum employees, and is also discussing the evacuation of objects.
In its statement, the MA also highlights that Ukrainian museum workers may be especially vulnerable: “many…have previously been involved in human rights movements and many museums provide space for the promotion and discussion of human rights. This puts museum workers at particular risk in the current situation.”
What can we do?
With a network of partners and colleagues across the world, IIC is being vigilant for ways to help and alive to the challenges on the ground. Here are a few examples:
Support for conservators displaced through war, conflict and disaster
IIC (itself founded from the ashes of war) is keen to move fast and flexibly for its members, including those displaced or seeking refuge from war, conflict and disaster. Its stipends can be used to assist or co-fund scholarships, internship costs as well as more practical support. The next round of our Opportunities Fund opens on 31 March, but as highlighted in our new announcement, will now accept applications at any time with a swift response where there is urgent need. Read full details of how to apply or donate to the fund here.
In someone cannot afford IIC membership in order to apply for a grant, we will do all that we can to help applicants when they get in touch. Contact us to discuss at iic@iiconservation.org. New donations to the fund expand our ability to step up and help more conservators and cultural heritage professionals.
The International Taskforce for Displaced Scholars
This group held its inaugural meeting on 27 February – you can read about its plans here. It consists of scholars and students who hope to leverage their positions at academic institutions to mitigate some of the effects of displacement on our international colleagues. While the Task Force began forming among Slavic and Eurasian Studies students and scholars based in the US and Europe, its framework is not restricted by geography, discipline, or rank. Prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, forty-five students and scholars representing eight countries and dozens of institutions attended the first meeting.
Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online (SUCHO)
SUCHO is a group of cultural heritage professionals – librarians, archivists, researchers, programmers – working together to identify and archive at-risk sites, digital content, and data in Ukrainian cultural heritage institutions while the country is under attack. They are using a combination of technologies to crawl and archive sites and content. The team currently includes academics from a number of university departments internationally, including Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University.
The group welcomes offers of help, and its website includes tutorials on how to participate. Full details here.
Nordic museums launch fund to save Ukrainian cultural heritage
The Nordiska museet foundation has opened a fund to raise money from Sweden and other Nordic countries, initially in aid of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, in Kiev, where the group is in contact with the museum director.
They add: “The money will be used for reconstruction as soon as possible, and to ensure the safety of the staff and collections. In a further step, other museums may also receive assistance. “
Read the full statement (includes instructions on how to donate)
Signposting help – tell us about opportunities and resources
A million people have already fled Ukraine, and it may be months or years before some can return, especially given the growing damage to infrastructure in the capital. We therefore face a situation where Ukrainian cultural workers will need to rebuild their existing work in other countries, or apply their skills in new ways.
We are therefore inviting IIC members and friends to signpost funded Fellowships, internships and placements, so we can add them IIC’s Jobs Board. Here is one example from the University of Graz. Please contact us at iic@iiconservation.org with information and leads. We will shortly be publishing a Google doc via IIC Jobs Board, with a running list of useful signposting.
What else is happening
Response from the international community
Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, DG of the Mystetskyi Arsenal National Culture, Arts and Museum Complex has written a letter appealing to international partners to ‘publicly share any successful stories of co-operation with Ukraine’ in the cultural sphere, as well as displaying the Ukrainian flag colours as an expression of solidarity. Cultural organisations and museums across the world are taking up this symbolic approach – ranging from London landmarks lit up in Ukrainian colours, to projections of Ukrainian artworks in California.
Ukrainians have expressed how much they appreciate this moral support; but most also realise that cultural bodies with capacity to do so will need to balance this with grounded action.
Organisations with an interest in protecting cultural heritage in times of war
A number of bodies have a specialist interest in cultural protection. Blue Shield has issued a short statement reminding people of the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The International Committee of the Red Cross, ALIPH, and our partners at ICCROM, which promotes First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis, will also be keeping a close watching brief on the situation.
The Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (SCRI) has also released a statement saying that it intends to start assessing and mapping cultural sites at risk, and are looking to develop plans with its partners to host displaced and at risk scholars.
