International

A curator from the Southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol is missing after being abducted from her home at gunpoint by Russian forces.

Director of the Melitopol Museum of Local History, Leila Ibrahimova, told the New York Times Galina Andriivna Kucher was kidnapped on 30 April.

Kucher’s disappearance follows the loss of 198 priceless artefacts reportedly looted from the museum.

Russian forces removed the artefacts, consisting of gold pieces, old weapons, silver coins and medals, which are more than 2,300-years-old, after museum workers attempted to hide the items.

Kucher reportedly refused to disclose the location of the artefacts. She was released from the raid but subsequently kidnapped the following night.

Melitopol has been occupied by Russian forces since early March.

A UNESCO world heritage meeting due to take place in Russia has been postponed indefinitely.

The decision follows pressure from global cultural organisations to pull the meeting in Kazan following the invasion of Ukraine.

The 21 member states of UNESCO’s heritage committee take turns to host the annual meeting, chairing the edition they host. There are currently no plans to relocate the 45th edition.

UNESCO estimated 53 cultural buildings in Ukraine had been destroyed by Russian attacks by the end of March. The number is now thought to be closer to 100.

At least 53 cutltural sites in Ukraine have been damaged since the Russian invasion began.

UNESCO says it has confirmed damage to 29 religious sites, 16 historic buildings, four monuments, and four museums, including one sheltering civilians in Mariupol.

"Our experts continue to verify each report and it is feared that other sites will be added to this list," a spokesperson said.

The agency is liaising with culture professionals in Ukraine to help protect artifacts and urging Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to adhere to its Hague Convention duty to protect cultural property during the conflict.

Cultural sites are marked with a blue shield are protected by the convention. If attacks are committed against these sites, UNESCO says the perpetrators will have committed acts that constitute war crimes.

18-year-olds in Spain will receive €400 (£335) in culture vouchers to spend on the arts this year.

Approved by the Spanish government last week, The Youth Cultural Bonus can be spent on festivals, live events, books, vinyl and digital music.

Vouchers must be split across cultural mediums, with a €200 (£170) spending cap on live events and festivals, a €100 (£85) limit for physical products and a €100 limit for digital products.

The project aims to generate new habits of cultural consumption, create new audiences and reduce the negative impact caused by the pandemic on the country's cultural sector, according to a statement from the Spanish government website.

The initiative follows similar examples in France and Italy, where 18-year-olds receive €300 (£250) and €500 (£450) respectively to put towards cultural spending.

DCMS is asking places to put themselves forward for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Bids are reviewed every 10 years by a panel of heritage experts and "only locations with the potential to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List will be put forward to formal nomination," the department says.

A tentative list of sites that currently includes Scottish Flow Country and Gracehill in Northern Ireland will be updated later this year and given to the World Heritage Committee in 2024. 

There are currently 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK, including Stonehenge, The Tower of London, Hadrian's Wall and, more recently, the slate landscape of north west Wales. Liverpool lost its status last year due to development on its waterfront.

Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston encouraged applications: "As well as international acclaim, UNESCO status boosts tourism and creates employment and economic growth opportunities."

A postdoctoral fellowship in Chinese and Sinophone contemporary art will provide a "unique opportunity", its funders say.

Asymmetry Art Foundation and The Courtauld have partnered on the two-year grant for early career academics, their first collaboration.

Two fellows will be mentored by The Courtauld's Senior Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Art, Dr Wenny Teo and be involved in a lecture series and international symposium.

Courtauld Director Marit Rausing said the initiative is part of "our continuing efforts to decentre and decolonise the curriculum".

A call for applicants will open soon with the first fellow selected by the summer.