Blue Shield Armenia (BSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving Armenia’s cultural heritage, particularly in areas threatened by armed conflict, natural disasters, or neglect. Founded as part of the global Blue Shield network, BSA works to mitigate the loss of cultural heritage through proactive protection, emergency response, recovery, and capacity building. Armenia’s rich cultural heritage, which spans across its current borders, faces ongoing threats from occasional tensions along its Eastern border, as well as natural disasters caused by climate change. BSA collaborates with international organizations like UNESCO, ICOM, and ICCROM, and local institutions to monitor, document, and raise awareness about endangered monuments.
The organization also engages in education and training, aiming to build a professional network skilled in heritage protection, including emergency response and conservation. BSA’s activities include conducting workshops, establishing academic courses in partnership with global institutions, and publishing research on cultural heritage issues. Through advocacy, research, and partnerships, Blue Shield Armenia strives to safeguard Armenia’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage for future generations and to promote international cooperation in protecting cultural diversity worldwide. In the aftermath of the 2020-2023 war, BSA is actively involved in awareness-raising about the fate of the Armenian cultural heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the preservation of the intangible heritage of its forcibly displaced population residing in Armenia