from Detroit Free Press -
New Van Gogh painting discovered; another called a fake
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from The Boston Globe -
Hidden van Gogh found at MFA
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Not very often does a paintings conservator help to re-write a small part of art history, but it happens. One can see an x-ray image of the "lost" painting by Van Gogh at the Boston's Museum of Fine Art web-page .
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from National Geographic News -
Digital Music Project Races to Save Tibetan Folk Songs
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A lethal combination of politics and encroaching modernisation makes this volunteer-run project to record Tibetan folk songs before they disappear a difficult task. But nevertheless, the progress so far is remarkable, thanks in part to, of all things, modern digital recording and internet technology.
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from The Guardian -
Floods threaten ancient and historic sites
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A reminder of what we do to the global climate can lead to a direct impact on efforts in the preservation of our historical and cultural heritage. The unrepairable and permanent destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans should suffice as an example.
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from Technology Review News -
Glue with an On-and-Off Switch
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A new adhesive, still very much in development in the lab, that can be unstuck by adjusting the pH level. This could be a great way to ensure that practical conservation treatments, such as repairs, could be safely undone in the future when a better method or material comes along!
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from National Geographic News -
Great Wall of China Overrun, Damaged, Disneyfied
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from Bloomberg.com -
War, Tourists, Climate, Gazprom Threaten 100 Sites, Fund Says
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from The Guardian -
Shrines devastated as militants target Iraq's ancient heritage
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Rush to modernity 'devastating China's cultural heritage'
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Unesco considers Tower for danger list
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Continual devastation to the world's built cultural heritage - some probably preventable, while others, perhaps, inevitable - is an ominous sign that long-term concerns are sacrificed for short-term gains. The road to universal preservation of the cultural heritage of the world is still a very long one, indeed.
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from 24 Hour Museum News -
Survey reveals almost two-thirds of adults use museums, libraries and archives
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from The Guardian -
Top museum directors praise free admission
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Culture is not an industry
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Overthrow the tyranny of targets: minister's message for the arts
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from The New York Times -
Seducing France Into Affairs of the Art
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A heartening reiteration of efforts to encourage the use of heritage venues amongst the general population. The support for culture and heritage, in more ways than one, is political - in keeping a vibrant sense of national identity, as tourist attraction, and as a catalyst to create buzz in the urban fabric.
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from The Art Newspaper -
Baghdad Museum reopens to staff
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Extreme times call for extreme measures in preserving heritage - to the point of sealing up the entire museum in order to protect the collections. However, the deteriorating internal environmental conditions - accumulation of groundwater and humidity - makes sure drastic actions unsustainable. Hence, the re-opening of the Baghdad Museum is not a celebration of the end of a difficult period, but an exposure to further risks of destruction.
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