The Academic Research Institute in Iraq

VULNERABLE HERITAGE: PLANNING RESPONSES IN IRAQ AND BEYOND

Co-Sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII), and the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (PennCHC)

Smithsonian Castle, Washington, D.C.

September 9, 2015

Global cultural heritage faces a combination of new and ever-pressing concerns that require urgent attention and coordinated action. Some of the many challenges include the absence of stable cultural sector governance, the intentional destruction of heritage sites, and the site sustainability in the face of climate change. As a key driver of global equity, economic tourism, and poverty reduction, heritage protection must also be framed in the broader context of global sustainability goals and agendas.

This workshop initiated a dialogue on the development of an integrative operational response framework and road map for dealing with increasingly global and widespread damage. It explored areas to streamline and leverage resources to protect cultural heritage in areas of crisis. The discussion also aimed to identify established funding mechanisms that allow for systematic and integrated responses within long-term, strategic goals rather than short-term, reactive responses.