UNESCO has launched the world's first Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Property - a digital space where you can see over 250 artifacts stolen from around the world. Find out what the project aims to do, who its creator is, and where you can see the stolen treasures.

World cultural heritage has found a new home – in the digital space. UNESCO has presented the world’s first Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, created to remind us that cultural heritage belongs to everyone, and its return is a common mission of humanity.

We tell you about the new project from UNESCO in this article.

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What is the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Properties?

The online museum presents more than 250 stolen artifacts provided by 46 countries around the world. Visitors can see 3D renderings of works of art, archaeological finds, ancient books and rare musical instruments. The collection is available for free – via the website or using a virtual reality headset.

Each exhibit has its own story. After all, as the authors of the project emphasize, “when a cultural object is stolen, we lose part of our identity.”

Who created the UNESCO Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Property?

The project was launched on September 29 at the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policy in Barcelona. The initiative is implemented in partnership with Interpol and with the financial support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The architect of the virtual museum is Pritzker Prize laureate Francis Kéré. His project is inspired by the shape of the baobab tree – a symbol of resilience and the connection of generations in African cultures. The spatial structure of the museum resembles the winding path of the famous Guggenheim Museum in New York.

What is presented in the UNESCO Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Property?

The museum’s virtual rooms are divided by region:

- Europe and North America – 96 objects;

- Latin America and the Caribbean – 57;

- Africa – 51;

- Asia and the Pacific – 37;

- Arab countries – 36.

Exhibits include a 2,000-year-old gold bracelet from Romania, an elephant tusk from Cameroon, a coin from the Benghazi treasury, as well as a bronze statue of Buddha from the Ming era and a gold pendant from Palmyra from the 2nd century AD.

In many cases, the 3D models were created using artificial intelligence, which recreates the shape of the lost objects based on old photographs.

The Return Room: A Special Place in the Museum of Stolen Cultural Property

Unlike traditional museums, the UNESCO collection has a special purpose – to shrink, not grow. The “Room of Return and Restitution” presents the stories of artifacts that have already returned home. For example, a trilobite fossil returned to Morocco in 2024.

In the future, when countries return their relics, digital exhibits will gradually disappear from the virtual gallery, symbolizing the victory of truth over oblivion.

Where can I find the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Property?

You can visit the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Property at the following link: museum.unesco.org.

The project has already become an example of how digital technologies can unite people and help preserve the memory of the past.

The launch of the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Property was an important step towards preserving the common history of humanity. Thanks to modern technology and international cooperation, now anyone can touch the cultural heritage that the world has lost to war, looting and illegal trade.

UNESCO is transforming digital space into a place of remembrance, where art and science work for justice. This project reminds us that cultural heritage has no borders, and its return is not only a gesture of respect for the past, but also a contribution to the future of generations.

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Photo - Unesco

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