The cultural heritage of Ukraine is under serious threat of destruction, looting and illegal transfer due to the Russian military aggression. Applications for the submission period of 2025 regarding financial assistance to protect movable Ukrainian cultural property are to be submitted latest by 31 May 2025 and prior to executing the intended project.
The following two types of financial assistance may be granted:
- Financial assistance for museums or similar institutions in Switzerland: for the temporary fiduciary custody and conservational supervision of endangered cultural property from Ukraine (TYPE A).
- Financial assistance for projects run by international organisations, institutions or private bodies: to maintain Ukraine’s cultural heritage, with a focus on projects that aim to prevent the destruction or theft of cultural property on the ground in Ukraine (TYPE B).
The financial assistance is granted in accordance with art. 14 para. 1 let. a and b of the Cultural Property Transfer Act (CPTA, SR 444.1).
Applications are to be sent via post or email and by using the following «Application Forms Financial Assistance» to the Specialised Body for the International Transfer of Cultural Property:
Protection of cultural property in armed conflicts
The protection of cultural property in armed conflicts falls primarily within the scope of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its additional protocols (keywords: "Blue Shield", "Safe Haven"). The section in charge of the protection of cultural property within the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) serves as a point of contact for all questions relating to the Hague Convention.
International legal bases
Last modification 03.04.2025
Contact
Federal Office of Culture
Specialised Body for the International Transfer of Cultural Property
Hallwylstrasse 15
3003
Bern
Phone
+41 58 462 03 25