World Nov 30 French baguette added to U.N. ‘intangible cultural heritage’ list UNESCO experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the staple bread flute deserved U.N. recognition after France’s culture ministry warned of a “continuous decline” in the number of traditional bakeries, and the closures of 400 bakeries a year over… By Thomas Adamson, Associated Press
Arts Sep 07 Watch 8:15 Smithsonian and U.S. Army join forces to save works of art and culture threatened by war A new collaboration between the U.S. Army and the Smithsonian Institution is expanding the numbers and capabilities of monuments officers in times of war. Their mission is to advise military commanders on how to minimize damage to art and key… By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport
Arts Jan 10 Watch 6:37 How France is leveraging a lottery to finance historic preservation From the Eiffel Tower to the Palace of Versailles, France is famous for iconic monuments and other structures. But the country also faces a large and growing challenge with protecting and preserving its lesser-known historic sites, many of which have… By Jeffrey Brown, Frank Carlson
World Jan 07 Trump retreats from threat to attack Iranian cultural sites President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed away from his threats to target Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates against the U.S. for killing one of its top generals. By Darlene Superville, Associated Press
May 30 Historic cemeteries and family memories stand in the path of Trump’s border wall By Nomaan Merchant, Associated Press Under current plans for the border wall, one 19th century cemetery could be lost entirely. Some graves would have to be exhumed; others without a headstone might be paved over. Continue reading
May 02 Meet the entrepreneur connecting indigenous artists with the global art market By Maea Lenei Buhre The benefits of life in larger cities can also come with the loss of a rich rural or indigenous craft culture. But this social enterprise company aims to bridge the gap between native artists and customers across the world. Continue reading
Mar 22 Watch 7:26 Bermuda battles to save the cultural treasure of shipwrecks By Jeffrey Brown, Mike Fritz Shipwrecks have defined Bermuda from its earliest days, even acting as an essential economic driver. Thousands of artifacts have been left behind, providing clues about life and trade of the time. Now the wrecks are getting a new life in… Continue watching
Dec 06 Amid regional instability and rising demand, a historic agreement could protect priceless cultural artifacts By Sandy Petrykowski A new agreement lays the groundwork for the U.S. to impose import restrictions on Egyptian archaeological items to reduce the incentive to traffic antiquities. Continue reading
Aug 19 Watch 2:17 A protector of Syria’s ancient past executed by Islamic State militants By PBS News Hour For world-renowned scholar Khaled al-Assad, the ancient site of Palmyra was his home and his life. Then the Islamic State came for him, wanting to know where valuable artifacts from the site had been hidden. The 81-year-old, who didn’t give… Continue watching