Following the 24 August earthquake in central Italy, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) wishes to express its great sorrow for the tragic loss of human lives and the destructions of entire cities, cultural heritage and museums.

While the priority, in the country’s prevailing state of shock, is to find the missing and to help the injured and homeless, ICOM is placing the expertise and network of its members at the disposal of their Italian colleagues to facilitate their work in assessing the damages and for subsequent recovery measures.

In the wake of the tragedy, Italy’s Culture Minister, Dario Franceschini, has announced that the proceed of ticket sales from visits to national museums on Sunday will go towards the victims of the natural disaster. An initiative that demonstrates the many ways museums contribute to their communities, including in expressing solidarity in times of crisis.