ICOMOS is releasing its final report on Project Anqa which seeks to preserve endangered cultural heritage sites in Syria through their digitalization using state of the art technology, build capacity in the region, promote the transfer of knowledge and create permanent architectural inventory units.

The project resulted in the creation of a web platform which includes virtual tours of 7 endangered heritage sites along with comprehensive data on the sites.

Project Anqa which means “phoenix” in Arabic is a joint initiative of ICOMOS, the non-profit organization CyArk, the Carleton University Immersive Media Studio and Yale University’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH).

Following the earlier call for the Scientific Symposium Co-Chair, which has since been appointed, expressions of interest are now invited for four (4) further volunteer positions as International Theme/Stream Co-Chairs for the Scientific Symposium to be held between 5 and 9 October 2020 as part of the 20th Triennial General Assembly of ICOMOS (GA2020) in Sydney, Australia under the overall theme “Shared cultures – Shared heritage – Shared responsibility”.

ICOMOS is pleased to share the document European Quality Principles for EU-funded Interventions with Potential Impact upon Cultural Heritage, available for download here and at http://openarchive.icomos.org/2083/

(A new version of this document, dated  November 2020, revised and augmented, is available at: http://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2436)

This document stems from the work of an expert group assembled by the ICOMOS, under the mandate of the European Commission and in the framework of the flagship EU Initiative of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, “Cherishing heritage: developing quality standards for EU-funded projects that have the potential to impact on cultural heritage”.

Dear members of ICOMOS,

The disastrous fire at Notre-Dame de Paris on 15 April shocked the world.

ICOMOS France and ICOMOS International renew their thanks to those who have expressed their sadness and concern for France.

This message aims to take stock of the current situation of the cathedral and to clarify the respective roles of ICOMOS France and ICOMOS International.

ICOMOS has been informed by a group of ICOMOS members in Kosovo of the situation of the former department store “Gërmia” in Kosovo which is under threat of demolition. The department store was designed by the architect Ljiljana Rashevski and was built in 1972 in Pristina, the capital of the country. It was the first department store to be created after the period of destruction of World War II and also included the first escalator in the city. This department store also represented the transition from central bazaars, which were the traditional form of retail in Pristina, to department stores after World War II. For all the above reasons, this building represents a period of great significance for the history of the city and the collective memory. Furthermore, “Gërmia” is one of the only remaining examples of modern heritage in Pristina.

Having been hosted by France in Paris at the invitation of André Malraux since 1965, ICOMOS has a special connection to this city. ICOMOS and all its members express their profound solidarity to our French colleagues, Parisians and the whole country and put our collective knowledge and energy at their service.

Please see below the statement by ICOMOS France on the fire at the Cathedral of Notre Dame:

"ICOMOS France is touched by the messages of support and concern for French heritage that continue to pour in since last night from all over the world. The devastating fire of a major part of the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris deprives us all of an emblematic monument that has witnessed eight hundred and fifty years of history. We are immensely sad and deeply distressed by this tragedy. ICOMOS France pays tribute to the fire brigades of Paris and to all those who skillfully and courageously rescued part of the cathedral.