Stories

CPF publishes their latest 2024-2025 Annual Report

Concluding the latest three-year funding cycle, the 2024-25 Annual report reflects CPF’s continued commitment to putting people at the heart of cultural heritage protection.

MaritimEA survey team and local fisher folk surveying remains of the Jam Jaskar Goth site during low tide

‘Preservation in action’: A spotlight on MaritimEA Research

Featured in CPF's 2024-25 Annual Report, this project focused on raising awareness of archaeological sites vulnerable to erosion caused by rising sea levels in Sindh, Pakistan.

A group of community members observing someone how to cast footprints onsite in Kenya

‘Preservation in action’: A spotlight on National Museums Kenya

Featured in CPF's 2024-25 Annual Report, this project focused on protecting the 1.5-million-year-old Ileret Footprints, crucial to the study of early human morphology.

Photograph of a young summer intern holding a clipboard making notes of a site in Palestine

'Preservation in action’: A spotlight on RIWAQ

Featured in CPF's 2024-25 Annual Report, this regenerative project is a continuation of RIWAQ's previous efforts to rehabilitate 50 of the most significant historic centres in Palestine.

Photograph of two men sat at a kiosk selling cassette tapes in Damascus

‘Preservation in action’: A spotlight on Syrian Cassette Archives

Featured in CPF's 2024-25 Annual Report, this project aimed to safeguard Syria's vibrant musical heritage which reflected the styles of Syria’s diverse communities.

A woman dancing in front of a crowd at Aumgulja Displaced Camp

‘Preservation in action’: A spotlight on Transformedia

Featured in CPF's 2024-25 Annual Report, this remote digitisation project aimed to permanently preserve the The Institute of African and Asian Studies Archive at the University of Khartoum.

Talented young musicians and maqam reciters from Mosul performing on stage with Amir El-Saffar at Ghabat Park, a site once used by Daesh as a training ground for fighters and a place where children were recruited.

‘Preservation in action’: A spotlight on University of Exeter's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies

Featured in CPF's 2024-25 Annual Report, this project broadened and revitalised the musical heritage of Maqam endangered by a concerted effort by Daesh in 2014.

Looking back on a year of cultural protection work 'in uncertain times'

Read the preview from Stephanie Grant, CPF Director, on our latest annual report

Photograph taken at a tall height looking at a crowd of people observing a dance by two tents. In the background are some huts, a car park and a mountain view.

Kassala Peace Garden – The heartbeat of Sudan’s communities

Earlier this month, Mallinson Architects officially signed over the completed Kassala Peace Garden and Community Museum to the Kassala Ministry of Tourism.

Photograph of a woman speaking with a mic on a podium

The three years behind why ‘Heritage Belongs in Every Climate Conversation’

INTO launched its latest exhibition on 2 December, celebrating three years of international collaboration between the UK and Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Syria, Uganda, and Zanzibar.

Man with his back to the sun, stood in front of 4 columns at the Temple of Zeus

History Hit debuts 'Ancient Adventures: Libya'

Streaming service History Hit has debuted the first historical documentary produced in the country since 2011 - following years of civil war and instability.

Photo of woman constructing a hut, they are usually responsible for construction as part of the Dassanach culture. Huts are normally rounded and made from animal skin and wood

Ileret Footprints shine at Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival 2025

Walk through time as Ileret Footprints shine at one of Kenya's most iconic cultural showcases

A group of people sit on the floor designing an exhibition panel with pens and paper. The object in question is a bronze cannon (Durham UNESCO Chair).

Varendra Research Museum launches Heritage Festival and 'A History of Bangladesh in 25 Objects'

On 28 November, VRM will open their doors with a Heritage Festival, marking the culmination of an 18-month long training programme supported by the Cultural Protection Fund.

Photo of people standing in a restored stone courtyard of a museum, in the background is the mountain settlement of the old village of Chenini

Tunisia showcases new museum highlighting heritage as climate solution during COP30

As world leaders gathered for COP30 this month, with CPF support, Tunisia unveiled a new museum that demonstrates how heritage can be used to build a climate resilient future.

Celebrating Intangible Cultural Heritage Day 2025

Hear from Stephanie Grant, CPF Director, on how intangible cultural heritage is 'a valuable asset that can tackle global challenges and enhance resilience in communities.'

Photograph of a woman stood speaking at a podium, with other seated panelists on stage.

ICCROM Forum underlines women and young people as catalysts for cultural heritage protection in the Middle East

Read the highlights from this three day conference which includes CPF projects in Palestine.

Image of a man next to a large, ancient Buddhist engraving on a boulder that is five times his height

The community spirit championing Swat Valley’s ancient Buddhist rock carvings

Discover the international and local efforts spearheaded by Essanoor Associates to protect a vital part of the ancient Gandharan civilisation.

Professor Iyas Hassan speaking during the Master Class presentation on the Epic (Sira) of King Al-Thaher Baybars

From coffee houses to YouTube: Ettijahat brews a medieval Arabic epic to life

Dive into how Ettijahat has connected global fans of Arabic medieval literature and political drama by reviving the legend of King Al-Thaher Baybars.

Looking ahead as the Dessie Museum reopens

From being at risk to further damage, discover how the Dessie Museum has become a new hub for education and tourism development in Northern Ethiopia.

A study group visiting Porthdinllaen beach in Wales

Three Hopes For MONDIACULT 2025

Hear from Stephen Stenning, Director of Culture in Action, on what he hopes will happen at MONDIACULT 2025.

Culture Grows: A Global Conversation in Nairobi

Recap the conversation held at the National Museums Kenya and find out what's happening next in London on 9 September

Several people sit in a traditional Meshouf canoe on water. One smiles at the camera, one is paddling and one reaches to touch the water.

Behind the ten-year journey to revive Iraq’s maritime heritage

Next month, Safina Projects will celebrate a decade of their pioneering initiative that has preserved and revitalised Iraq's ancient boatbuilding traditions.

Photograph of five women of the Bajuni community performing ‘Vugo’, a sacred and rhythmic pre-wedding performance that is traditionally sung and danced by women in the bride’s home as she prepares for marriage

Landmark move introduces the Bajuni language to Kenya’s curriculum

In celebration of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, discover the advocacy work behind Twaweza Communications.

Photo of a building a dome on the right, and at the lower level is a small court with benches and greenery

Treasured historic Cairo sites reopen after cimate-change restoration

July 2025 marks the formal reopening of two medieval Islamic monuments to the local community in Historic Cairo, after they were closed due to climate-change related threats.

A graphic scan of a building against a black background.

Inside the digital and community-led push to protect Lebanon’s endangered coastal heritage

Discover HeritageWatch.AI's pioneering efforts to protect Lebanon's coastal castles and medieval heritage from climate change

Photo of four seated women, where one person is holding the mic as the rest listen.

CPF's Nairobi Showcase as part of the UK/Kenya Season 2025

See some of our CPF projects and explore the intersection of cultural heritage and digital technology in Nairobi

Man standing and talking to a group of people

'Recovery Lab of Port Said' wins Egypt’s major heritage conservation award

Egypt’s construction industry has hailed CPF’s ‘Recovery Lab of Port Said’ as 2025’s ‘Conservation & Heritage Initiative of the Year.’

Photograph of CPF Grants Manager Mona Habeb. She is wearing sunglasses, a coat and a headscarf. In the background is the temple of Zeus.

CPF in Libya: 'Unmistakably heritage in motion’

Hear from Mona Habeb, CPF Grants Manager, on the impact of CPF projects in Libya.

Photograph of three women harvesting wild thyme, in the background are mountains

Cultural Protection Fund enters its 10th year of protecting vital cultural heritage at risk

'This funding extension is an acknowledgement of the increasing demand for a UK response to the challenges facing our global cultural heritage.' - Stephanie Grant, Director of CPF.

Balancing Lofi and Hifi: CPF reports on the future of Digital Cultural Heritage

The British Council has published a new milestone report, ‘Digital Cultural Heritage: Imagination, innovation and opportunity.’

No Other Land wins Best Documentary Feature Oscar

No Other Land has won Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards. The film was co-directed by two alumni of a project supported by the Cultural Protection Fund.

British Council Cultural Protection Fund

Looking ahead: Cultural Protection Fund renewed to 2029