More detail on each of the above programmes is available on their websites, and they are by no means the only ones operating in this sector.
Cultural Emergency Response (CER) We were fortunate to have with us for the session Romana Delaporte, Programme Manager, Capacity and Networks, at the CER, to talk about their work.
Established in 2003 by the Prince Claus Fund in the Netherlands, following the looting of the Iraq museum in 2003, it became an independent NGO in 2022.
Book conservation project, Ecuador. Photo © Conservartecuador
It has funded 565 projects in more than 85 countries, acting as an ambulance organisation to respond to urgent need. Instead of scheduled calls with deadlines, it has a rolling funding process that provides quick grants of between €15,000 to €35,000. The funding is usually spent on urgent salvage and stabilisation work, emergency digitisation and improving storage. Responses are fast and flexible, and support locally-led heritage protection and infrastructure. To achieve this, they rely on a decentralised approach, with regional hubs led by local organ- isations that work on emergency planning as well as response. Through that structure they are able to run regional training pro- grammes, and mobilise resources. As an organisation working at the crossroads of humanitarian aid and heritage protection they work closely with partners in other sectors, include the Whiting Foundation, the Qatar National Library, UNESCO, the Endan- gered Archive Programme, International Council on Archives (ICA), International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and many more.
Rescuing artefacts from attack in Ukraine. Photo © Maidan Museum, Ukraine
cyberattacks that have damaged the British Library and Toronto Public Library, among many other cultural institutions.
Where to start
There is clearly more that can be done, but there is no need to start from scratch. There are many organisations already operat- ing in this landscape who could use our support, so here are just a few that we are aware of:
Book Aid International –
https://bookaid.org A charity operating across the world to provide new carefully selected books to libraries, we in ILIG heard about their work last year. (
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGw2nTglnIk).
Sucho (Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online) –
www.sucho.org
A remarkable initiative of volunteers from libraries across the world, that has captured and preserved over 50 TB of digital content at risk from Ukrainian libraries and cultural organisa- tions, with the goal of returning it once the war is over.
Fighting erasure, digitizing Gaza’s genocide and the War in Lebanon –
www.archiveslab.org/projects/fighting-erasure A project launched in October 2023 by the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, with a goal to document and protect indig- enous land, built environments, archives and heritage in Gaza, elsewhere in Palestine, in South Lebanon and the surrounding area.
Blueshield International –
https://theblueshield.org An international organisation founded in 1996 to protect the world’s cultural heritage from threats such as armed conflict and natural disasters.
The Endangered Archive Programme –
https://endangeredarchives.flexigrant.com
A long running programme based at the British Library which provides funding to digitise archives that are in danger of destruction, neglect or physical deterioration.
June-July 2026
Examples of the work of the CER include projects in Lebanon following the 2020 blast, in Ukraine during the current war, in Syria and Turkey following the 2023 earthquake, and in Palestine in 2024. They have funded the preservation and digitisation of a Palm Leaf Manuscript collection in Sri Lanka damaged by flood- ing; and the conservation of 32,500 books damaged by water from the Library of the Monastery of San Augustin in Ecuador. People rather than objects are at the heart of their work, which Romana described as providing hope and wellbeing for commu- nities whose cultural heritage has been threatened. They support the cultural sector by running training courses on digitisation and project management, and they are currently working on a funding manual.
In response to questions, Romana confirmed that the organ- isation is closely monitoring the situation and consulting with partners to assess how best to provide support when it is safe to do so, following the recent outbreak of war involving the United States and Israel. Heritage sites have already been targeted.
Responsibility to help The examples above show just a few ways in which we as a com- munity can use our unique skills and networks to support our colleagues overseas. A simple statement of support can provide valuable moral support to those working under unimaginable pressure and they also serve as a clear statement of our values. Fundraising and disaster support are vital at times of immedi- ate crisis, while longer term programmes of digitisation and staff training can help provide resilience, securing cultural heritage for the future.
As a community we can promote and publicise the work of our colleagues in the charitable sector and use our professional networks to spread the word and to help raise more money. Our professional skills give us the tools to preserve content that would otherwise by destroyed, if we work internationally. This all takes time and effort, but doing nothing also sends a message. Attacks on libraries are sometimes just collateral damage, but as often they have proved to be a deliberate way to destroy cultural heritage and identity. We have a professional responsibility to help. What would it say about our commitment to our values if we did nothing? IP
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