2022-06-15

#mrepeace

As the conflict in Ukraine continues to tragically unfold adding to an already long list of armed conflicts worldwide, the mre would like to set a sign of solidarity and peace. In a context of human displacement under harrowing conditions, our team has asked itself how it can make a positive contribution.

We have firstly compiled a selection of links, which either inform about the refugee crisis, assists them or encourages support:

  • Informing
  • Inducing personal initiative
  • Assisting refugees

Saving human lives is paramount. Furthermore, as an art institution we also feel compelled to provide links relating to the support of cultural heritage in conflict zones

Both artists and cultural sites in war zones are in grave danger. Artists can face persecution and risk execution if they do not flee, while cultural heritage is targeted to erase the identity and material memory of the victims (see UNESCO website).

Valuable cultural heritage is thus often irretrievably destroyed. Many organizations and supporters are working to save as many cultural objects as possible. Sometimes all they need is packaging material, volunteers, and transport vehicles.

We hope you will find this list useful, please do not hesitate to forward it to anyone interested in offering support.

Informing

Restoration / Cultural Assets

  • Art Loss Register: The world’s largest private database of stolen art
  • UNESCO Weltkulturerbe: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

Mediation

Personal initiative

Donations

  • Deutsche Welthungerhilfe: Listen and donate – Deutsche Welthungerhilfe reports on the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Including, the worsening famine on the African continent.
  • Razom for Ukraine: Razom, Inc. is a non-profit organization supporting the people of Ukraine in their pursuit of a democratic society with dignity, justice, and human and civil rights for all. Razom coordinates groups of volunteers and fundraising efforts to build a prosperous Ukraine project by project.
  • UNO Flüchtlingshilfe: UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe e. V. is the German partner of the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR. Since 1980, UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe has been committed as a non-profit that supports refugee projects worldwide.
  • Wir packen’s an: Wir packen’s an is a non-profit association from Berlin-Brandenburg that brings direct aid to suffering people fleeing at the EU’s external borders.

Donations for Restoration / Cultural Assets

  • Blue Shield Deutschland: Blue Shield Germany is a registered non-profit organisation which endeavours to support the protection of cultural heritage both during armed conflicts, natural disasters and other large-scale emergencies, both on the national and international level.
  • ICOM Deutschland: List for material donations
  • Kulturgutretter: A blog post informing about a logistics network established for aid supplies to protect Ukrainian cultural heritage
  • Verband der Restauratoren: Information on the protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine and link collection

Help for Refugees in General

Local (Wiesbaden)

  • Amt für Zuwanderung und Integration: A list of migration services in Wiesbaden (GER)
  • AWO: The Migration counseling AWO support adult immigrants by initiating, managing, and accompanying the integration process in an individual and targeted manner. The counseling is confidential and free of charge.
  • Flüchtlingsrat Wiesbaden: The Flüchtlingsrat-Wiesbaden (Refugee Council of Wiesbaden) is an association of people and groups who jointly inform about the situation of refugees, provide practical support (through counselling, mediation with public authorities, etc.) and demand political rights for refugees.
  • Jugenmigrationsdienste: The Jugendmigrationsdienste (JMD) assist young people with a migration background aged between 12 and 27 with their integration process in Germany.

LGBTQ+

Jewish Refugees

Artists / Art Students

  • ARTIST at RISK (AR): is a non-profit organisation active at the intersection of human rights and the arts. Since 2013, AR has built a mondial network of arts and non-profits, municipalities, states and international organizations to assist, relocate and fund artists who are at risk of persecution, oppression or fleeing war or terror. AR hosted artists in 26 locations in 19 countries globally.
  • Artist Protection Fund: draws upon the unwavering commitment that the Institute has demonstrated for over 100 years to preserve lives, voices, and ideas from around the globe. With support from the Mellon Foundation and with the participation of many arts organizations worldwide, IIE developed the Artist Protection Fund to fill a critical unmet need by providing relief and safe haven to artists on a large scale, and for extended periods.
  • ICORN: The International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) is an independent organisation of cities and regions offering shelter to writers and artists at risk, advancing freedom of expression, defending democratic values and promoting international solidarity.
  • Martin Roth Initiative: support for Afghan artists. 

The selection of the individual organizations was not made according to any particular preference. The link list is meant to provide assistance and to show different areas that can be supported. Parallel to the links listed above, there are numerous other organizations that are worth supporting.

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