On 4 November 1966, the floodwaters of the Arno devastated Florence, threatening centuries of artistic and cultural heritage. The extraordinary international response helped transform Florence into a world-renowned centre of excellence in conservation and restoration. Sixty years later, that legacy lives on in the city's conservators, institutions, workshops and generations of expertise. Inspired by this history, the Mircea Maria Gerard Foundation seeks to mobilise Florence's conservation community and partners around the world in a community-driven effort to protect cultural heritage at risk. Our first initiative, Firenze per l'Ucraina, brings together Ukrainian conservators, institutions, volunteers and international partners to safeguard and restore cultural heritage threatened by war.