Design of the virtual museum of Stolen Cultural Artifacts by architect Francis Kéré. The groundbreaking project is a collaboration between UNESCO and Interpol.

The world’s first virtual museum dedicated to combating the illicit trade of cultural artifacts will be designed by architect Francis Kéré, the first African architect to receive the prestigious Pritzker Prize.

In a groundbreaking collaboration, UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural body, and INTERPOL are set to launch the world’s first virtual museum dedicated to combating the illicit trade of cultural artifacts. Scheduled for release in 2025, this visionary project has received substantial support from Saudi Arabia, with an initial funding commitment of $2.5 million. The primary objective is to raise awareness about the grave issue of stolen cultural property and facilitate the recovery of these invaluable objects.

UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, eloquently emphasizes the profound significance of this initiative. She states, “Behind every stolen work or fragment lies a piece of history, identity, and humanity that has been wrenched from its custodians, rendered inaccessible to research, and now risks falling into oblivion.” This collaborative effort with INTERPOL aims to showcase the gravity of cultural theft and actively contribute to recovering stolen artifacts.

https://artcentron.com/2023/10/25/unesco-interpol-build-virtual-museum-stolen-cultural-objects/?utm_medium=email&utm_content=Lc1RGQY2IiOkBzT2K78sQQC8v_-oqH7OYnweBciYCMvXmXqTErLWuyaLrqB8DFK7