#nearestbombshelterNEAREST
BOMB 
SHELTER

The Nearest Bomb Shelter project was created and launched by the Bickerstaff agency to support the Ukrainian national pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024. The project aimed to remind the world about the war that russia is waging against Ukraine and the fragility of peace. At that time, the route to the nearest bomb shelter passed through the Ukrainian national pavilion.
So, we created posters showing the route to the nearest bomb shelter. Along with the posters, the agency also created the Bomb Shelter Map of Venice (as was done at the beginning of the bombing of cities in Ukraine in 2022) and distributed booklets and posters throughout the city.

The project received extensive media coverage. People from different countries began reaching out to us, asking for similar projects in their cities. It’s essential for Ukraine to remain in the media spotlight, so we have developed a guideline for you to create an informational event in your city by creating and distributing posters and maps.











Make a russo-ukrainian war
reminder in your city.

Here is the guideline.  

Please read this disclaimer before you begin


The shelters involved in the creation of maps and posters following this guideline have never been and will never be intended for practical use. Most shelters that can currently be found on Google Maps in peaceful countries are abandoned and aren't suitable for use in case of real danger.


This project is solely aimed at raising awareness. Please do not mislead people, and do not present this information as maps of actual, operational bomb shelters.

IMPORTANT:

- Only military structures and sites marked on the Google map as bunkers or bomb shelters should be added to the map.
- Make sure you haven't added a point that is not a bunker but is named like one (e.g., a cafe, bar, club, etc.).




1. CREATE A POSTER

The easiest way to participate in this project is by creating a poster using our template. We have two templates available – choose the one that best suits your preference.



Poster “Nearest Bomb Shelter”

  1. Find the nearest bomb shelter on Google Maps in your city. Only military structures, not bars, clubs etc. Make a screenshot.
  2. Download the template.
  3. Change the name of the city. (A)
  4. Add a screenshot of the map with the nearest bomb shelter marked on it. (B)
  5. (Optional) For advanced users, include a QR code linking to the online map. You can create one using the instructions below in the map section. (C)
  6. Export the map as a PDF, print it, and spread it.
  7. Take photos, share them in social media, and tag us! (@bickerstaff.734 on Instagram, @bickerstaff_734 on Twitter and @bickerstaff284 Facebook). Use the hashtag #nearestbombshelterTake photos, share them in social media, and tag us! (@bickerstaff.734 on Instagram, @bickerstaff_734 on Twitter and @bickerstaff284 Facebook). Use the hashtag #nearestbombshelter 
             






Poster “Permanently closed (?)”


  1. Find a bomb shelter nearby that is marked as "Permanently closed" on Google Maps. Save photo of it. 
  2. Download the template.

  3. Insert a photo of the permanently closed shelter you’ve saved. (A)

  4. Change the shelter's name to match the one on Google Maps. (B)

  5. Change the address. (C)

  6. (Optional for advanced participation) Add a QR code linking to the online map. You can create one using the instructions provided below in the map section. (D)

  7. Export the map as a PDF, print it, and spread it.

  8. Take photos, share them in social media, and tag us! (@bickerstaff.734 on Instagram, @bickerstaff_734 on Twitter and @bickerstaff284 on Facebook). Use the hashtag #nearestbombshelter

             







2. CREATE A BOMB SHELTER MAP
If you want to do advanced commitment, create bomb shelter map. Here is how you can do offline and online versions.




Online map01. Use the desktop version of Google Maps to locate abandones bunkers and bomb shelters in your city. 


IMPORTANT:

- Only military structures and sites marked on the Google map as bunkers or bomb shelters should be added to the map.
- Make sure you haven't added a point that is not a bunker but is named like one (e.g., a cafe, bar, club, etc.).


02. Collect appropriate shelters in BOMB SHELTER GOOGLE MAP. 
Select a point with the bunker. Check if it fits.
Push “Save”.
Select “New list”.
Name the map: BOMB SHELTER MAP OF (YOUR CITY).
Click on the next bunker you want to add. When you push “Save”, select the list you’ve created. If it doesn’t appear at once, reload page and do it again. 
After adding all the points to your map, push “Share”.
Generate the link to view.
Push “Get link to share”.
Copy link to share.



03. Generate a QR code from link to the BOMB SHELTER MAP you’ve copied above using free online generator. Like this one for example. Save the code. You’ll need it for offline map or you can add it to the posters above.




Offline map

Before you start working with the template, you have to create a picture of the area with bomb shelters. You’ll need to complete steps 01 and 02 in the online map section and then move on to the steps below.
Press cmd+P (Mac) or ctrl+P (Win) to print the map to PDF.
Choose Landscape orientation and save your map.
  1. Download the template.
  2. Change the name of the city (A)
  3. Fill the area (B) with the PDF map you’ve saved.
  4. Place QR code to your map (C).
  5. Export the map into pdf. Print it. Fold it. Spread it. 
  6. Take photos, share them in social media, and tag us! (@bickerstaff.734 on Instagram, @bickerstaff_734 on Twitter and on @bickerstaff284 Facebook ). Use the hashtag #nearestbombshelter

           







DISCLAIMER:
 This guideline was created by Bickerstaff agency in response to numerous requests from people in various countries. We sincerely appreciate the desire to spread reminders of the war waged by the russian federation against Ukraine. We are grateful to all proactive individuals! However, we cannot take responsibility for the content filled into our templates or verify its accuracy. Therefore, the use and distribution of the materials from this guideline are carried out solely based on goodwill and under the individual responsibility of the user.
We hope for your understanding and thank you for supporting Ukraine.We strongly recommend double-checking the information you input into the template and reviewing the print material distribution restrictions in your city.

We hope for your understanding and thank you for supporting Ukraine.