From 30 March till 24 April 2015, a four week course on “First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis” is being held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO together with The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and The Smithsonian Institution organize the course in order to equip participants with necessary skills and knowledge to help protect and preserve cultural heritage in emergency situations.

Twenty-two heritage professionals from all over the world will provide the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable the parcticipants to save and protect heritage before, during and after a crisis situation. The recent destruction of heritage in the Middle East and natural disasters, such as in the Philippines, clearly demonstrate the relevance and urgency of this training. During these four weeks, participants will learn how to take preventive measures, analyse risks, and recover or restore cultural heritage. For more information, visit the UNESCO website and the ICCROM website.

Recently an article was published in a Dutch newspaper on the subject, this article can be found here.