Announcements
April 2021
Mosul Museum Cultural Rescovery Project
- Shattered by Isis, Iraq's Mosul Museum is Rising from the Ashes
- Mosul Cultural Museum Rises from the Ravages of Isis
- Six Years Ago, ISIS Brutally Attacked an Iraqi Museum. See Inside the Effort to Bring It Back to Life Today
April 2020
USVI Legislative Records Recovery Project:
- Press Release: Completion of the USVI Legislative Records Recovery Project
- Smithsonian Completes Work to save Historic Journals
- Sen. Jackson Announces Completion of Work at Smithsonian to Save Historic Journals
October 2019
We are thrilled to announce today's signing at Smithsonian's Archives of American Art of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) ("USACAPOC(A)") to protect and preserve cultural property in armed conflict. This significant step forward will enable us to train and support new personnel, a group of cultural heritage specialists, adding important capacity to the force. This agreement will continue the legacy of the WWII Monuments Men and Women who served in the Army Civil Affairs Division to save many of Europe’s cultural treasures.
For more information about this program:
- The Army Is Looking for a Few Good Art Experts (New York Times, Oct 21, 2019)
- USACAPOC, Smithsonian to train the next generation of Monuments Men (U.S. Army Reserve, Oct 22, 2019)
- The US Army Is Launching a 21st-Century Version of the Monuments Men to Protect Cultural Heritage in War-Torn Regions (ArtNet News, Oct 22, 2019)
March 2019
SCRI is heading to the Mid-West!
Strategies for Post-Disaster Community Engagement workshop
Cultural institutions can provide important information to communities to preserve their possessions as they regain access to their homes and businesses. The Smithsonian Institution will provide a short briefing about its Saving Your Family Treasures program, then representatives from other Nebraska institutions are invited to share any programs currently under way and discuss strategies for working together.
Saving Your Family Treasures
These workshops will include a formal presentation followed by a question-and-answer period. Smithsonian experts will demonstrate how to handle, dry and clean damaged objects and share tips on personal safety, prioritization and preservation options.
For more information about this workshops:
November 2018
The Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative announces the publication of an innovative resource on First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis. The Handbook and Toolkit is the outcome of nearly a decade of field experience gained by ICCROM, and a close partnership among ICCROM , The Prince Claus Fund, and the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative.
Download the Handbook and Toolkit.
January 2018
The Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative announced a $1 million gift from Bank of America at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The gift, presented to Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton and Board of Regents Chair David Rubenstein by Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan, is the largest corporate donation to the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative, and establishes Bank of America as the program’s lead corporate sponsor.
Selected News Coverage of Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative Projects
- U.S., Bahamas Salvage Hurricane-damaged Artifacts (SHAREAMERICA, Aug 20, 2020)
- The Haitian Earthquake A Decade Later (Smithsonian Magazine, Jan 10, 2020)
- Rescuing Bahamian Culture (Smithsonian Magazine, Nov. 22, 2019)
- The Army Is Looking for a Few Good Art Experts (New York Times, Oct. 21, 2019)
- Smithsonian Institution Teams Rescued Family Treasures and Tales (FEMA News Release, Oct 30, 2018)
- The Fire That Consumed Brazil’s Treasures (The New York Times, Sept 7, 2018)
- How to Save What’s Priceless When Disaster Strikes (Houzz.com, Aug 22, 2018)
- Protecting Puerto Rico’s Heritage from Another Disaster (Smithsonian Insider, May 9, 2018)
- What It's Like to Evacuate a Museum in a Natural Disaster (The Atlantic, Dec 14, 2017)
- 'All Is Not Lost': These Experts Help Save Hurricane-Soaked Heirlooms (NPR, October 28, 2017)
- Special operations veterans honored in Fort Bragg ceremony (The Fayetteville Observer, October 26, 2017)
- How to Save Family Heirlooms from Natural Disasters (Smithsonian Magazine, October 2016)
- We Can Do More to Protect the World’s Art and Architecture from Natural Disasters (Artsy.net, September 2016)
- Smithsonian, other agencies protect artifacts in Iraq, Syria (Washington Post, August 19, 2016)
- First Aid for Endangered Cultural Heritage Sites (U.S. Department of State Official Blog, July 8, 2016)
- Heritage at Risk: Safeguarding Museums During Conflict (Museum Magazine, July/August 2016)
- FAC 2016 diploma ceremony at the Italian Embassy (Italy UN, June 30, 2016)
- As ISIS loses ground, scholars return to beloved historical sites (PBS, April 5, 2016)
- Crash Courses Prepare Art Conservators for Catastrophic Disasters (Smithsonian Magazine, March 2016)
- The Small, Good Stories (The Pennsylvania Gazette, February 18, 2016)
- How can we preserve our Cultural Heritage? (World Economic Forum, 2016)
- The Struggle to Save the Middle East's Cultural Treasures (Nature, January 8, 2016)
- Countering Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods The Global Challenge of Protecting the World’s Heritage (ICOM, 2015)
- Scientists Work to Save Antiquities from Islamic State destruction (Science Magazine, December 18, 2015)
- Human Rights Day Highlights Scientific Contributions to Prevent Cultural Heritage Destruction (AAAS, December 17, 2015)
- Expert Panel Urges Passage of Bill Protecting Syrian Antiquities (AAAS, November 9, 2015)
- Preserving Cultural Heritage in Conflict (Hollings Center, October 15, 2015)
- Cultural Preservation in Disasters, War Zones Presents Big Challenges (The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 11, 2015)
- Cultural Heritage: Conflict and Reconciliation (The University of Chicago, Cultural Policy Center, April 13, 2015)
- Unexpected—Earthquake 2011: Lessons to Be Learned (Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, September 30, 2014)
- Protecting Ancient Treasures from Becoming Casualties in Iraq and Syria (PBS Newshour, September 24, 2014)
- Smithsonian and Penn Cultural Heritage Center Organize Emergency Workshop and Training Program to Safeguard Syrian Cultural Heritage (Newsroom of the Smithsonian, August 14, 2014)
- Interim Government Establishes Heritage Task Force (National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, June 24, 2014)
- The Role of Museums in the Context of a Crisis: ICOM Organises A Training Seminar For Museum Professionals In West Africa (ICOM Museum.org, February 2014)
- Marines Get Their Own Training: ‘Monuments Men’ (Marines, November 20, 2013)
- Q+A: How to Save the Arts in Times of War (Smithsonian Magazine, January 24, 2013)
HEART 2019 intern announcement
PDF copy of the HEART 2019 internship announcement
HENTF Archive 2020 internship
PDF of HENTF Archive internship announcement
