United Nations Art Collection

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A bust of Nicolaus Copernicus at the United Nations Headquarters, New York City, a gift from the People's Republic of Poland to the United Nations (1970).

The United Nations Art Collection is a collective group of artworks and historic objects donated as gifts to the United Nations by its member states, associations, or individuals. These artistic treasures and possessions, mostly in the form of “sculptures, paintings, tapestries and mosaics”, are representative “arts of nations” that are contained and exhibited within the confines of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, United States, and other duty stations, making the UN and its international territories a "fine small museum".[1][2]

Member states follow a protocol for presenting official gifts to the United Nations. Procedures, speeches, and ceremonies, such as the unveiling of these gifts, are conducted and coordinated by the Protocol and Liaison Service. Ideally, every member nation can only present one offering, and member nations are responsible for the installation of the offered artifacts.[2][3][4]

The official gifts to the United Nations by its member states epitomize the ideals, significance and values of the UN as an international organization.[5]

Collection[edit]

Conservation and maintenance[edit]

The main entity responsible for the conservation of the collection is the UN Arts Committee.[2] The United Nations is assisted, through a special mandate and regulations, by fundraising groups such as the Maecenas World Patrimony Foundation in this endeavor of preserving these artistic and international heritages.[17] However, about 50 gifts, partly close to dissolution, are stored in the basement; and in some cases, have been so for decades.[18]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Frommer's Review: United Nations, New York City Attractions, New York City, Travel Guides, NYTimes.com, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
  2. ^ a b c Marks, Edward B. Art... At Home in the United Nations, UN Chronicle United Nations Publications (1998), Gale Group (2004) and FindArticles.com, Winter 1998, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
  3. ^ Presentation of Malaysia's Gift to the United Nations, Speech by Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, New York, September 25, 2003, PMO.gov Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
  4. ^ The Director-General, Protocol and Liaison Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, UNOG.ch (undated), retrieved on: August 2, 2007
  5. ^ Moore, Lawri Lala. Moorings: The World of United Nations Peoples, Disarmament Exhibit Steals Centre Stage, UN.org, 2002, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
  6. ^ Garten, UN Photo/Mark (24 October 2005). "Chagall Peace Window Dedication Ceremony". www.unmultimedia.org. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  7. ^ Chagall Stained-Glass, United Nations Cyber School Bus, United Nations, UN.org, 2001 Archived April 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on: August 4, 2007
  8. ^ An 'element of inspiration and calm' at UN Headquarters - art in the life of the United Nations Retrieved October 13, 2010
  9. ^ Norman Rockwell Mosaic, United Nations Cyber School Bus, United Nations, UN.org, 2001 Archived March 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on: August 4, 2007
  10. ^ "Japanese Peace Bell". United Nations Cyberschoolbus. New York: United Nations. 2001. Archived from the original on 2010-07-10. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  11. ^ Swords Into Plowshares, United Nations Cyber School Bus, United Nations, UN.org, 2001 Archived July 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on: August 4, 2007
  12. ^ a b "Nigerian Sculpture at United Nations Headquarters". United Nations. Archived from the original on 2018-01-28. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Art and Architecture at the UN". Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  14. ^ "In praise of ... Guernica". The Guardian. 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  15. ^ David Cohen, Hidden Treasures: What's so controversial about Picasso's Guernica?, Slate.com Retrieved October 17, 2010
  16. ^ "Single Form (In Memory of Dag Hammarskjöld)". United Nations. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  17. ^ Maecenas World Patrimony Foundation Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, CelestialSphere.ch, 2005, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
  18. ^ Frithjof Ehm, "Art of the World. The Art Collection of the United Nations" Archived 2011-01-02 at the Wayback Machine, in: Prague Leaders Magazine N° 1/2010, p. 77-79.

External links[edit]