In July 2023, as missile strikes hit Odesa, the Odesa Archaeological Museum was not directly struck — but the damage was unmistakable. Shockwaves cracked its walls, part of the ceiling collapsed, and repeated vibrations from nearby explosions continued to increase vulnerability of the 19th-century building.
To help safeguard more than 160,000 artefacts, UNESCO, with support from the Foundation of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, launched a project to strengthen the museum’s conservation, documentation and emergency preparedness capacities.
Through a comprehensive approach combining preventive conservation, storage reorganization, digitization, emergency preparedness and professional capacity-building, the project aims to improve the protection and long-term preservation of one of Ukraine’s most significant archaeological collections.
Since the launch of the project, UNESCO has focused on strengthening the storage security organization and risk preparedness alongside training programmes for museum staff and student. Museum staff, students and young professionals received specialized training in collections care, emergency response and the UNESCO-ICCROM RE-ORG methodology, while new custom-built storage equipment was installed to improve collection safety.
The project has already delivered significant results for the safeguarding of the museum’s collections, including the inventorying of thousands of objects, the reorganization of storage materials, the digitization of archival documentation and the photographic documentation of archaeological collections.
The work at the Odesa Archaeological Museum reflects an ongoing cooperation between UNESCO, the museum staff, international experts as well as students and local professionals, combining technical expertise with the commitment of those working on the ground.
Future steps are expected to focus on further on-the-job training in digitization, continued involvement of students, and the development of educational programmes to strengthen understanding of cultural heritage and the museum’s broader role.
Today, the museum is not only better protected, it is above all better prepared.
Through these efforts, UNESCO and its partners continue to strengthen the resilience of cultural institutions facing the impact of war, ensuring that Ukraine’s cultural heritage is not only preserved but actively carried forward. With safer collections, stronger systems and teams better equipped to respond to future risks, museum professionals, students, and local communities are playing a vital role in protecting and sustaining the country’s cultural heritage.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-reinforces-safeguarding-capacities-odesa-archaeological-museum?hub=701
