2024-08-23 19:57:50
A flood occurred on Friday morning in a storage facility of the Iconography Center of the Geneva Library (BGE) where photographic documents are stored. Measures have been taken to save the threatened documents. The situation is under control, the City of Geneva stated in a press release.
The water infiltration came from the surrounding area, noted the municipality. As soon as the flood was discovered, a crisis unit for the protection of cultural property was activated by the BGE management. A series of measures were taken to protect the collections, with the help of the Civil Protection unit.
An evaluation of the typology of the affected collections is underway. The collections of the Iconography Center have been moved to the Bastions site to reduce the impact of water damage. By the end of the day on Friday, the documents were either protected or in the drying process.
The City of Geneva specified that the intervention will continue over the coming days. The Bastions site of the BGE will remain closed to the public on Saturday and will reopen during regular hours next Monday at 9:00 AM. The Iconography Center is located at Passage de la Tour, at the top of Boulevard du Pont d’Arve.
The Iconography Center preserves prints, drawings, paintings, busts, portraits, maps, postcards, and photographic documents. In 2023, the center housed approximately 4.4 million documents. It is one of the main conservatories of photography in Switzerland.
This article was published automatically. Source: ats
Future Trends in Cultural Heritage Protection and Preservation
Recent events, such as the flooding at the Centre d’iconographie of the Bibliothèque de Genève, underscore the vulnerabilities faced by cultural heritage institutions. As we look ahead, several key trends are likely to shape the future of cultural heritage protection and preservation.
Increased Collaboration with Emergency Services
The activation of crisis response protocols, as witnessed in Geneva, highlights the importance of collaboration between cultural institutions and emergency services. Future trends may lean towards establishing more robust partnerships, enabling quicker and more effective responses to environmental threats.
Advancements in Preservation Technology
With the rapid pace of technological advancements, we can expect significant innovations in preservation techniques. From climate-controlled storage to state-of-the-art drying processes, technology will play a critical role in safeguarding invaluable collections from water damage and other risks.
Emphasis on Risk Assessment Protocols
As collections like those at the Centre d’iconographie contain millions of irreplaceable items, the implementation of comprehensive risk assessment protocols will become increasingly common. Institutions will likely adopt regular evaluations to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize preventive measures.
Public Engagement and Education Initiatives
Educating the public about the significance of cultural heritage preservation is likely to gain momentum. Institutions may enhance outreach initiatives to foster a community sense of responsibility regarding the protection of cultural assets, encouraging public involvement in safeguarding these resources.
Sustainability Considerations
Environmental concerns are expected to influence future preservation strategies. Organizations will increasingly focus on sustainable practices, incorporating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient systems in their preservation efforts, ultimately aiming to reduce their carbon footprint while protecting heritage collections.