Pressmeddelande -
Nordic museums launch fund to save Ukrainian cultural heritage
The ongoing war in Ukraine is a threat to the nation’s museums and cultural heritage sites. Important aspects of the Ukrainian cultural heritage risk being lost or damaged, and local Ukrainian museum directors plead for co-ordinated economic support from their Nordic colleagues.
The Nordiska museet foundation now creates a fund to raise financial support from Sweden and the other Nordic countries, to save the cultural heritage of Ukraine. The effort is carried out in close collaboration with the Swedish National Heritage Board, the CMS (central museums’ co-operation council), and a number of museums throughout Sweden and the Nordic countries.
Armed conflicts are not just humanitarian disasters in terms of threats of violence and death aimed at soldiers and civilians - an important part of the shared European cultural heritage is also under threat. Alarming reports from museum colleagues in Ukraine induce fear for the future of the Ukrainian cultural heritage. An intense effort is under way, to secure and protect museum collections.
– We are now responding swiftly to the calls of distress from our Ukrainian colleagues. The purpose of this fund is primarily to provide financial support to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, in Kiev, where we are in contact with the museum director. 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. Nordiska museet will be administrating the fundraising in close co-operation with the Swedish National Heritage Board and some of our Nordic museum colleagues, says Sanne Houby-Nielsen, head of the Nordiska museet foundation.
– The need is great, and I am glad that we are able to swiftly organize a fundraising through Nordiska museet. We remain in close dialogue with the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, in Kiev, in order to support and be a link to the outside world regarding what happens with the Ukrainian cultural heritage, says Joakim Malmström, director general and head of the Swedish National Heritage Board.
The fundraising welcomes contributions from both institutions as well as the public.
Bankgiro: 5475-9758
Swish: 1236280424
Label: "Insamling till Ukraina"
The collection of means for financial support is primarily intended for the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, in Kiev. The funds are for the hands-on rebuilding of the museum as soon as possible, and to secure the collections, as well as creating knowledge about them in Sweden, the Nordic countries, Europe, and the rest of the world. The collection will ensure swift and tangible efforts as soon as possible.
Further reading
Nordic National Museum Directors urge Russia to respect the 1954 Hague Convention
Nordic Museums Associations urge Russia to respect the 1954 Hague Convention
1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
