Unesco

After outcry from antiquities trade, Unesco further adjusts ad campaign on looted artefacts

Dealers association challenged the campaign’s claims that two newly pictured objects were stolen

Finally, rebel experts come to the rescue of Unesco’s failing World Heritage programme

New organisation, Our World Heritage, is putting Unesco's feet to the fire

New heritage body aims to keep Unesco in check by calling on public to report sites in danger

Our World Heritage says it is stepping in to save at-risk locations as “safeguarding has become a secondary concern” for Unesco

Unesco under fire for using Met objects in anti-trafficking campaign

Advertisements said that the works were looted in recent years, but Met documentation shows that they have a much longer provenance

Heritagecomment

Fifty years on, Unesco’s convention against illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts still shines bright

International treaty of 1970 has helped establish an ethical basis for the actions of law enforcement and museums

Unesco, stop citing 'bogus' $10bn figure, art trade pleads

Ahead of a major anniversary this weekend, the international organisation is under fire for apparently exaggerating the scale of the illicit trade in cultural goods

Beirutnews

Unesco, Icom and Louvre rally to help Beirut as museums tackle extensive explosion damage

A coalition of international museums and heritage organisations are working to provide expertise to Lebanese institutions

Hannah McGivern. with additional reporting by Gareth Harris

Russia to fund small-scale replica Hagia Sophia in Syria that will be used as a church

Tactical move comes after Turkish president ordered historic Istanbul site to be turned into a mosque

Turkish government on collision course with Unesco over turning Hagia Sophia into mosque

President Erdogan’s plans to convert the museum have drawn fire from Greece and the US

Mosulnews

Unesco's plan to ‘revive spirit’ of devastated Mosul gets under way

Initiative involves local communities in rebuilding their historic landmarks and neighbourhoods

Unesco denounces construction project near Lebanon's ancient archaeological site Nahr El-Kalb

In an open letter, the organisation criticises building work in the historic area, which is on the nomination list to become a World Heritage site

Heritage on the edge: new Google project reveals climate change damage to Unesco sites

Digital visualisations gathered for online exhibit will be a “blueprint” for heritage managers planning climate adaptation in the future

Turkeynews

Court ruling converting Turkish museum to mosque could set precedent for Hagia Sophia

Decision that Kariye Museum must become a Muslim house of worship again could imperil its Byzantine art and have repercussions for other early Christian monuments

Venice comment

Venice is in peril: Unesco should come to the aid of Venice as it did after the great flood of 1966

Its official international role, to which Italy signed up, enables it to mobilise world expertise and funds

Iraqnews

As protests rage in Iraq, experts say culture is key to long-term reconstruction

Iraqi culture ministry announces new national museum in Baghdad as Mosul restoration plan is extended to historic churches

Unescocomment

A former Unesco chief denounces its failure to protect Venice at Baku meeting

“Where have the ethics and sense of a global mandate to protect the world’s heritage gone?”, asks Francesco Bandarin

Unesconews

In a first, Unesco gives Frank Lloyd Wright buildings World Heritage status

US architect's distinctive designs are among 29 designees recognised for their “outstanding value to humanity”

Brazilnews

Unesco visit brings new growth to Roberto Burle Marx’s home and garden

Brazil funds major renovation of landscape architect's lush estate, which could become a World Heritage site in 2020

Venice comment

The Turkish shareholders in the port of Venice want to keep cruise ships coming—and the mayor supports them

The World Heritage Committee is meeting in Baku and intends to dodge declaring Venice endangered for the third time

Planned cable car attraction over Belgrade historic fortress ‘should be suspended’

Kalemegdan served as a military site for the Roman Empire and is a candidate for Unesco World Heritage status

French senate says Notre Dame must be restored 'in the same way as before'

Wim Delvoye, one of the artists who submitted a proposal, says he is confident the government will pivot to his solution

Opposition flares as Peru’s government makes way for airport near Machu Picchu

A petition has been launched to prevent the Peruvian government from continuing the project

Italy secures loan of Leonardo da Vinci's Benois Madonna from Russia's Hermitage museum

There has been intense competition to borrow works by the artist during the 500th anniversary of his death this year

Exhibition of Gormley’s figures repopulates a Greek island’s ancient ruins

Life-size "bodyforms" are positioned amid ancient grottoes, agoras and sculptures

Notre Dame should be rebuilt as it was

The cathedral’s 19th-century additions are as much part of its history as its Gothic vaults, says a former director of Unesco’s World Heritage Centre

Weimar—birthplace of Bauhaus—opens new museum dedicated to the influential design school

On the same day, the nearby Neues Museum Weimar will open a new permanent exhibition on early Modernism

Unesconews

Goodbye Venice, goodbye Ravenna, goodbye Ferrara, goodbye Carthage?

Many World Heritage Sites around the Mediterranean are at grave risk from sea-level rise by 2100, report says

Unesconews

UK threat to leave Unesco reignites debate about purpose of UN culture body

The US and Israel announced plans to leave the international organisation last year