Dates: 31 July – 24 August 2018 – Deadline to apply: 23 March, 2018 – Place: Tilburg, Netherlands
Cultural heritage is of great value to communities worldwide. It connects us to the past, serves as a basis for our identity and as a source of knowledge. Furthermore, it can contribute to economic growth and sustainable development. However, heritage is vulnerable, especially to the impact of natural disasters. Climate change is adding to this challenge. Economic losses from disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones and flooding are now reaching an average of US$250-300 billion each year. Furthermore, although the number of armed conflicts around the world has been declining, there is an inexorable rise in the intensity of violence associated with conflict.
Past events have shown that cultural heritage plays a role in strengthening the resilience of affected communities. First Aid for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAC) emphasizes increased awareness, preparedness and immediate coordinated response to safeguard movable and immovable cultural heritage directly after a crisis. It aims to enhance participant skills for emergency preparedness and response, crisis communication, and people-centred first aid to cultural heritage. Using simulations and scenarios to replicate field conditions, the training is mostly hands-on.
The training aims to enhance collaboration between the cultural and humanitarian sector by streamlining activities and communication, and by enabling cultural responders to be integrated in overall humanitarian response efforts. Questions such as how and when to intervene in an unfolding humanitarian crisis — where one starts, how to help the affected communities in recovering their heritage, and how to coordinate your activities with authorities — form the basis of this course.
Organizing partners
- ICCROM, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
- Prince Claus Fund, Cultural Emergency Response Programme (CER), Netherlands
- Smithsonian Institution, USA
- Netherlands Commission for UNESCO
Application process
- Please download the application form and send it to ICCROM-FAC2018@princeclausfund.nl. Please note that only complete applications will be taken into consideration.
- Short listed candidates will be invited for a Skype interview with the organisers and instructors in the first week of April.
- A final selection of participants will be communicated 16 April 2018 at the latest.