The Blue Shield is incorporated under Dutch law but, its secretariat is currently based at, and is staff of, Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.
Blue Shield is firmly supported by the international organisations who founded it and who are Board members: ICA (International Council on Archives); ICOM (International Council of Museums); ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites); IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions).
Their national members also provide support to Blue Shield national committees around the world.
President Peter Stone is the UNESCO Chair for Cultural Property Protection and Peace. Part of this remit includes the work of the Blue Shield.
Blue Shield International has formal agreements with the International Committee of the Red Cross, NATO SHAPE, the United Nations Interim Deployment in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative, Cultural Emergency Response, Biladi, and the GyeongGi Cultural Foundation (Republic of Korea). In early 2024, we were excited to sign a formal Letter of Intent with UNESCO’s Culture and Emergencies Sector, to work together on heritage protection in crisis. However, the Blue Shield works cross-sector with all those involved
in heritage protection, including humanitarians, the armed forces, and emergency services.
Blue Shield is also excited to have received and be implementing grants from a number of donors.
