Hear from Stephanie Grant, Director of the Cultural Protection Fund, on the importance of protecting intangible cultural heritge.
As we approach our 10th anniversary, now is a good opportunity to reflect on the rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage that has been celebrated across the projects we fund.
In 2016, the Cultural Protection Fund was launched in response to the deliberate targeting of cultural heritage in areas of conflict. This included the destruction of Palmyra – an ancient and beautiful site of archaeological importance and historical value. Led by British Council in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, CPF has since awarded £55m to 160 projects in 19 countries protecting vital heritage at risk.
We’ve learned that what's at stake is more than physical structures. It’s people’s memories, traditions, stories and other markers of their culture that makes them who they are and helps them understand who they want to be.
Over time, the focus on intangible heritage has grown in CPF. In the beginning, 76% of projects focused solely on physical sites, monuments and objects. Now, 60% of funded projects include the protection of intangible heritage. Even in projects where the focus is a physical site, there are actions to safeguard the memories and the livelihoods of the communities around it.
To date, £21m has been invested in 65 projects protecting intangible heritage. In our active cohort of 45 projects, you’ll find music, recipes, crafts, languages, tattoos, stories and songs.
Intangible cultural heritage should be protected, but it should also be acknowledged as a valuable asset that can tackle global challenges and enhance resilience in communities. For example:
- Traditional ways of life and indigenous knowledge inherited from past generations can help us prepare for a climate resilient future. In Pakistan, in a CPF project led by Laajverd, women are developing new skills in hospitality and how to create cultural experiences through storytelling and local cuisine; using their culture to generate income and make them better prepared for future threats.
- Heritage provides a ‘common ground’ on which to resolve tension and support peacebuilding. In Sudan, communities have been coming together to celebrate their cultural heritage in ‘peace tents’ in the CPF project 'Safeguarding Sudan’s Living Heritage.' Music, dancing, food and rituals bring people together who are otherwise being torn apart by war.
I am inspired by the work our projects do, many of which do so in the face of exceptional challenges. The CPF will continue to protect and platform intangible cultural heritage, because we know how valuable it is.
'If we don’t keep sharing these stories, they will be erased and appropriated… So it is vital for us to claim this narrative and to work on how to tell our story.'
Project participant in CPF-funded 'On Our Land' project in the West Bank
