The Delegation of the European Union to the State of Kuwait, in collaboration with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyya and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) organized an exhibition titled “Restoring our past, preserving our future: protecting cultural heritage at risk” at Yarmouk Cultural Centre. The exhibition displays the work of ALIPH in protecting and restoring cultural heritage in conflict areas including Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, and Ukraine. The exhibition will remain open until Saturday, 8 June 2024.

During the opening ceremony, H.E. Ms. Anne Koistinen, Ambassador of the European Union to the State of Kuwait said: "The European Union Delegation in Kuwait is proud to join hands with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, the ALIPH and Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyya in organising this exhibition as part of Europe Month activities in Kuwait, which showcases the importance of protecting culture in conflict areas. The European Union will continue to advocate for the universal respect of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict, help partners to protect cultural heritage, and promote documentation, investigation and accountability of crimes against cultural heritage. Through joint efforts, we can ensure that future generations inherit the rich history and diverse cultures that define our global heritage. The protection and restoration of these cultural treasures are essential for fostering peace, understanding, and resilience within communities worldwide."

Mr. Valéry Freland, the Executive Director of ALIPH, said: “I would like to thank the EU Delegation in Kuwait, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letter, and Dar Al-Althar Al-Islamiyya for their invitation to shed a light on the importance of protecting endangered cultural heritage in the face of war, crisis, or environmental threats. Kuwait was one of ALIPH’s founding member states over seven years ago, and today it is an honor to show the people of Kuwait that their support has helped ALIPH finance and steer over 450 heritage protection projects in more than 35 countries. Moreover, with the support of new donors such as the European Union, ALIPH has the remit to continue and expand its mission so that the women and men behind the cultural heritage can carry out their essential work of preserving humanity’s memory.”

ALIPH is the main global fund exclusively dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of cultural heritage in conflict zones and post-conflict situations. ALIPH was founded in 2017 as a public-private partnership. Today,  ALIPH is formed by eight states -China, Cyprus, France, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates- and three private donors -Dr Thomas S. Kaplan, the Getty Trust and Fondation Gandur pour l'Art. Switzerland is its host country. Since its creation, other public partners — like the European Union, Monaco, Oman, Romania, and the United States of America—and private foundations — have supported ALIPH.

Ramon Sanz Fuente

Ramon Sanz Fuente