Prompted by the recent destruction of temples and monuments in Syria and Iraq by ISIS, the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) is now encouraging US museums to act as safe havens for threatened works of art in conflict zones.

The AAMD’s new guidelines address objects “at risk due to conflict, terrorism, or natural disasters.” Institutions would accept the objects as loans and return them when it is safe to do so. Though there is some concern that such a system might result in the unknowing acceptance of looted objects, and thus, promote the illegal sale of antiquities, the fact that many important cultural objects could ultimately be saved seems worth the risk, no? Read more and let us know what you think.