ABOUT ASOR CULTURAL HERITAGE INITIATIVES
Initiated in 2014, ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives is an international collaboration of scholars and institutions who work under the auspices of ASOR. Through two cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of State and with the generous support of non-federal organizations and donors (especially the Getty Conservation Institute, The Whiting Foundation, and the Kaplan Fund), ASOR undertakes projects to document, protect, and preserve the cultural heritage of war-torn Syria, northern Iraq, and Libya. Hundreds of significant heritage sites have been damaged since fighting began in 2011. Although the destruction of cultural property represents only part of the humanitarian crisis, these harmful actions threaten our common world heritage and cultural diversity. We have an ethical obligation to respond, and our project is part of an international effort to work with Syrians, Iraqis, and Libyans (and other peoples) to protect their heritage and cultural identity.
Our Mission
The ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives implements cultural property protection by:
1. Documenting damage
2. Promoting global awareness
3. Planning emergency and post-war responses
Who We Are
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives is an international, collaborative effort focused on education and stewardship programs that foster understanding between people transcending ethnic, religious, and geographic boundaries. We have assembled a team of scholars with professional connections to leading academic and cultural institutions in Canada, England, France, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and the United States.
Contact Us
We welcome interested parties to help the ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives fulfill its mission to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of the MENA region by volunteering your time and expertise.
