2.3 2022
#StandWithUkraine
The Council of the Swedish National Museums strongly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We regret the loss of human life, and we fear irreparable damages to the cultural heritage.
We have received alarming reports from colleagues in Ukraine, struggling to protect and preserve objects and collections. As fellow colleagues we pay our respect to the work of museum professionals safeguarding the cultural heritage of Ukraine.
Russia has ratified UNESCO:s 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1954 Hague Convention. By doing so Russia has committed to protecting Cultural Heritage. We urge the Russian leadership to respect the Convention and to fulfil its promise to spare museums and collections from attacks and destruction.
“Museum collections have become a target in conflicts around the world. Not only have collections been looted and sold for monetary gain, they have also been stolen or destroyed to deprive nations and peoples of their past. This is a crime against international law,” says Ann Follin, chairperson of the Council of Swedish National Museums.
Directors of the Swedish National Museums
Moderna Museet
ArkDes, National Centre for Architecture and Design
National Historical Museums
Nationalmuseum
Nordiska museet
Skansen
The National Swedish Museums of Military History
Swedish Performing Arts Agency
The Museum of Science and Technology
The Museum of Work
The National Museums of World Culture
The Swedish Museum of Natural History
The Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums
Fundraiser to save Ukraine’s cultural heritage
The Nordiska Museet foundation has created a fund to collect financial help, in Sweden and the Nordic region, to save Ukraine’s cultural heritage. The fundraiser takes place in close dialogue with the National Heritage Board, the central museums, and museums in Sweden and the Nordic region.
The fundraiser welcomes both institutions and individuals:
Bankgiro: 5475-9758
Swish: 1236280424
Label: Insamling till Ukraina
The collected funds will go primarily to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in Kyiv. The fundraiser aims specifically to rebuild the museum as soon as possible and to secure the collections and knowledge about them in Sweden, the Nordic countries, Europe, and the world. The fundraising will ensure swift and concrete efforts as soon as possible.
Read more about the fundraiser here: Nordic museums start financial fundraiser to save Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
Published 2 March 2022 · Updated 4 March 2022