On 23 October 2026, Blue Shield held its General Assembly at the iconic Acropolis Museum in Athens bringing together representatives of its international network, both in person and online.
ICOM actively participated in discussions on the Organisation’s future priorities and the implementation of its renewed vision and mission. As a member of the Blue Shield International Board and one of its four founding Organisations alongside ICA, ICOMOS and IFLA, ICOM is strongly committed to strengthening international cooperation and advancing global advocacy for the protection of cultural heritage worldwide.
The General Assembly elected Alberto Garlandini, representative of Blue Shield Italy and former ICOM President as the new President of Blue Shield. Five new Board members representing the Blue Shield National Committees were also elected: Constance Domenech de Celles (Germany), Emilie Leumas (USA), Helene Rånlund (Sweden) and Samuel Franco Arce (Guatemala). Together with representatives of the Founding Organisations, the newly elected Board brings together extensive international expertise and experience to guide Blue Shield’s work and further its missions across borders.
Following the General Assembly, the international heritage community gathered at the University of Nicosia’s Athens campus for the scientific conference “Blue Shield 30! The Past, Present, and Future of Cultural Property Protection”, celebrating three decades of international cooperation and collective commitment to heritage protection.
The anniversary offered an opportunity to take stock of Blue Shield’s achievements, reflect on emerging challenges and reaffirm the need for coordinated international action to safeguard cultural and natural heritage against the growing threats posed by armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change.
Blue Shield’s mission is rooted in the recognition that heritage protection is a shared international responsibility. It depends on solidarity and collaboration across countries, institutions and professional sectors, bringing together heritage professionals, international legal experts, military personnel, and humanitarian and emergency response organisations.
By fostering this multidisciplinary cooperation, Blue Shield helps strengthen prevention, coordinate emergency responses and support recovery efforts, enabling expertise, resources and knowledge to be mobilised across borders when they are most needed.
As threats to cultural heritage become increasingly complex and interconnected, this 30th anniversary is not only a celebration of past achievements but also an opportunity to renew the collective commitment to stronger partnerships and action. ICOM reaffirms its dedication to this shared endeavour, working alongside its international partners to protect cultural heritage as an essential expression of our collective memory, identity and humanity, for present and future generations.
