MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
The United States Department of State is responsible for implementing the
Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (the Act). This is the
enabling legislation for the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of
Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of
Ownership of Cultural Property.
In accordance with the Act, State Department
accepts requests from countries for import restrictions on archaeological or
ethnological artifacts, the pillage of which places their national cultural
heritage in jeopardy. The Cultural Property Advisory Committee, appointed by
the president of the United States and administered by the State Department,
reviews these requests and makes recommendations.
Under the president's
authority, the State Department makes a decision with regard to the request
and may enter into a cultural property agreement with the requesting
country. The cultural property staff supports these functions and related
activities and serves as a center of expertise on global cultural heritage
protection issues.
International Council of Museums
The definitive text of the July 1998 Rome Treaty setting up an International Criminal Court is now available on the UN web server:
http://www.un.org/icc/romestat.htm
Contrary to some earlier reports, the jurisdiction of the Court does cover war crimes against cultural property under customary international law and the Geneva Conventions in both international wars - in Article 8, para.2(a)(ix) and non-international conflicts - Article 8, para.2(e)(iv). Earlier uncertainty or confusion on this point probably relates to the view of some delegations that though all of its principles are accepted as "Customary International Law" the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in Times of Armed Conflict as such is still not accepted by sufficient countries for a direct cross-reference to the 1954 Hague Convention to be accepted by a sufficiently large proportion of the Rome Diplomatic Conference participants as a whole. (The United States of America in particular has been especially firm on this specific point throughout the various discussions of the past 6 or 7 years.) Consequently the much older and less precise, though uncontested, wording derived from the 1899 and 1907 Hague Conventions has been copied into the provisions of Article 8 of the 1998 Rome Treaty. Of course, the Court as such will not come into existence until the required number of the 121 States voting for the new treaty actually turn their vote into a formal Instrument of Ratification - something that's likely to need primary legislation in most if not all countries. Also, as usual the new Treaty is not retrospective, so only war crimes etc. occuring after the Treaty comes into force will be subject to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
ICOMOS is an international organization of professionals dedicated to the conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites. Through National and International Scientific committees, symposia, and other meetings, ICOMOS provides a forum for professional dialogue and a vehicle for the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information on conservation principles, techniques, and policies. Its web server and its companion gopher, are designed to further this exchange and stimulate increased awareness of the world's cultural heritage at all levels. Useful site offering links to several other sites of importance.
The Heritage Forum is an interactive journal that gives museum and other heritage professionals the opportunity to share resources, ideas, and information. The Heritage Forum: enables professionals to contribute material that is of benefit to colleagues provides current, relevant, and organized information through listservs (discussion groups), provides the opportunity for discussion on topics of common interest or concern, offers easy access to resources on the Internet by means of well-organized links. Information in the Forum is in a searchable database.
The new National Trust for Historic Preservation Web site is set to emerge as a central resource for historic preservationists. From the practitioner to the academic to the casual observer, this site is loaded with valuable information. Links to countless resources, both online and off, an-easy-to-use archive of ongoing preservation casework, reports from the field, press releases, and an interactive discussion forum are just part of a vastly improved and already highly-attended site.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, chartered by Congress in 1949, is a nonprofit organization with more than 275,000 members. As a leader of the national preservation movement, it is committed to saving America's diverse historic environments and to preserving and revitalizing the livability of communities nationwide.
For additional information please contact Lori Schuman at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Email: lori_schuman@nthp.
Telephone: (202) 588-6047.
181 Thompson Street, #23 - New York, NY 10012-2586
Telephone: (212) 777-0062
E-Mail: ACTS@CaseWeb.Com
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"Providing Safety & Hazard Information for the Arts - Worldwide!"
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Don't expect any fancy features on this page. But, if you are looking for professional information about the hazards posed by toxic materials and dangerous equipment used in art and theater, you have found the right place!
The only worldwide free art/theater hazards information service by phone, mail, and e-mail providing:
The Institute of Museum Services (IMS) is an independent federal agency. It supports museums¹ educational role through grant programs that encourage outstanding museum management and comprehensive collections care practices. IMS programs are designed to encourage the best in museum practice. Awards encourage excellence and strengthen museum operations, help museums care for collections and provide professional training. IMS also offers the National Award for Museum Service, an annual award that celebrates museums¹ service to their communities.
The Institute of Museum Services was established by and Act of Congress in 1976 to encourage and assist museums in modernizing their methods and facilities so that they may be better able to conserve our cultural, historic, and scientific heritage; and to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public.
IMS is the only federal source of operating support for museums. For many types of museums IMS is the only possible source of federal support.
Home Page of City University's Department of Arts Policy and Management - Europe's largest interdisciplinary centre for arts, museums and heritage policy and management studies and research, housed above London's Barbican Arts Centre. In addition to detailed information about the Department and its work, this World Wide Web site offers access to a range of around 30 more original documents about many aspects of cultural policy and management, and links to over 180 other relevant Web sites and policy etc. documents.
Page designed as a navigation tool for museum professionals and anyone interested in museums. It was created by Harold Robinson at the John F. Kennedy University Department of Museum Studies in Orinda,California, as part of a master's project on museums and the Internet. This home page is a basic starting point for the many listings and resources available online in the area of museums. Please send comments for evaluation.
This Web-site is based at the Institute for Art & Architectural History, University of Groningen. It is devised and maintained by:
Drs. H.C.M. Kleyn
Architecture and City Planning Historian
Major of the Royal Engineering Corps, RNARF
Cultural Heritage Protection Service
kleyn@let.rug.nl
URL= http://www.let.rug.nl/~kleyn/
(At: CHPE bibliography a very useful list of publications is available.)
:
Resources for Conservation Professionals. CoOL, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries, is a full text database of conservation information. The databases cover a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials.
The Museum Computer Network is a nonprofit organization of professionals dedicated to fostering the cultural aims of museums through the use of computer technologies. We serve individuals and institutions wishing to improve their means of developing, managing, and conveying museum information through the use of automation. We support cooperative efforts that enable museums to be more effective at creating and disseminating cultural and scientific knowledge as represented by their collections and related documentation.
(We have prepared a separate file offering information about The Museum Computer Network.)
Also: Museum Sites Online
Consulting, Publishing and Training for Cultural Heritage Professionals. Archives & Museum Informatics was founded by David Bearman in 1986. Since then, it has organized conferences,workshops and seminars, published journals and monographs, and consulted for archives and museums worldwide. Its educational goal is to provide specialists in archives and museum information systems with timely and challenging opportunities for professional exchange and training. Its consulting services emphasize strategic planning and standards based solutions
Security organization and operations. ("The heart of a Museum is in its collections, to recognize and assume the responsibilities in the possession of its collections, which are held in trust for the benefit of the present and future citizens of the community. Museum Security is a mechanism that provides for the protection of collections, equipment, information, physical facilities, staff and visitors and that prevents influences that are undesirable, unauthorized, or detrimental to the goals or the well being of the Museum.")
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
The Committee consists of twenty-one States Parties. They are elected for a period of six years. Each General Assembly replaces one-third of them, i.e. seven seats become available per two-year period.
The Committee meets once a year, usually in December, to discuss all matters related to the implementation of the Convention; it decides on the inscription of new properties on the World Heritage List, establishes the World Heritage Fund budget for the following calendar year, examines requests for international assistance, defines policy matters etc..
UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, based at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, assures the day-to-day management of the Convention.
At the: WORLD HERITAGE LIST information can be found about the 506 properties which the World Heritage Committee has included in the World Heritage List (380 cultural sites, 107 natural sites, and 19 mixed sites in 107 States). The World Heritage List was established under terms of the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Culture and Natural Heritage adopted in November, 1972 at the 17th General Conference of UNESCO.
The Convention states that a World Heritage Committee "will establish, keep up-to-date and publish" a World Heritage List of cultural and natural properties, submitted by the States and considered to be of outstanding universal value. There also is a bibliography of World Heritage Documents ( The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is developing an electronic information system which permits the retrieval of information contained in the reports of World Heritage statutory meetings. To the extent feasible, this searchable online collection reflects the history of the Convention and the deliberations of the Committee and Bureau. The printed records of these meetings are deposited in the UNESCO Archives, which has kept the records of documents, legal instruments and publications of the organization since its creation in 1946. At this website a search tool is present. Try museum+security, library+security, library+safety..
World Heritage Publications
The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training promotes and enhances the preservation of historic resources in the United States for present and future generations through the advancement and dissemination of preservation technology and training.
The Center, created by Congress, is an interdisciplinary effort by the National Park Service to advance the art and science of historic preservation in the fields of archeology, historic architecture, historic landscapes, objects and materials conservation, and interpretation. The Center serves public and private practitioners through research, education and information management.
NCPTT is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana and works closely with the Cultural Resources Stewardship & Partnership Programs and other offices of the National Park Service.
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHAELOGY: Compiled and maintained by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service.
The American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA) was incorporated in March,1995, to serve the needs of the cultural resources industry. The cultural resources industry is made up of of over 1,000 firms employing over 10,000 people working in a wide variety of fields, including historic preservation, history, archaeology, architectural history, historical architecture, and landscape architecture. No other association addresses the business needs of this diverse community.
The mission is to promote the professional, ethical and business practices of the cultural resources industry, including all of its affiliated disciplines, for the benefit of the resources, the public, and the members of the association by:
(information about the ACRA mailinglist)
Accessible, Relevant Learning Opportunities for Museum and Heritage Professionals at the University of Victoria. Accessible professional development resources are provided for people involved with museums, galleries, heritage agencies and other cultural organizations throughout Canada and beyond. Distance Education Courses are offered.
Founded in 1906, the American Association of Museums (AAM) is dedicated to promoting excellence within the museum community. Through advocacy, professional education, information exchange, accreditation, and guidance on current professional standards of performance, AAM assists museum staff, boards, and volunteers across the country to better serve the public.
AAM is the only organization representing the entire scope of museums and professionals and nonpaid staff who work for and with museums. AAM currently represents more than 14,000 members--9,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, 3,000 instit utions, and 1,200 corporate members. Individual members span the range of occupations in museums, including directors, curators, registrars, educators, exhibit designers, public relations officers, development officers, security managers, trustees, and volunteers.
Every type of museum is represented by the more than 3,000 institutional members, including art, history, science, military and maritime, and youth museums, as well as aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, historic sites, and science and technology centers.
Homepage (in German), which is partially dedicated to "kulturgut" (cultural property), esp. the protection of German private libraries of noble families.
