The Board of the Prince Claus Fund has allocated CER €100,000 per year for a period that lasts until the end of 2011. To provide support for a higher number of cultural emergencies than would otherwise be possible, the Fund raises additional resources for CER by approaching governments, non-governmental organisations, companies and individuals.
CER is partly funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.
Between 2007 and 2011 the Dutch Postcode Lottery is supporting the CER program with an additional sum of €200,000 from its annual 13th draw. This donation will make it possible for the Prince Claus Fund to implement an increased number of cultural emergency relief actions over the coming five years. Since 2001, the Prince Claus Fund has been included as one of the Dutch Postcode Lottery’s 53 good causes. www.postcodeloterij.nl
The Prince Claus Fund received an additional grant of 1 million euro for its Cultural Emergency Response program for the years 2008 and 2009 from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanks to which CER is able to triple its actions throughout the world. The Prince Claus Fund very much appreciates this acknowledgement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the value of its Cultural Emergency Response programme.
Carrying a torch is a powerful symbol. It implies light, hope and commitment. CER’s commitment is to preserving cultural heritage under threat from manmade or natural disaster. Louk de la Rive Box, former Chair of CER’s Steering Committee, called upon people to become “Torch Bearers” for cultural heritage, when he spoke at the Maastricht Art Fair TEFAF in March 2008. His passionate appeal was for people to pledge € 10,000 or more “to raise the torch for cultural heritage.”
Earlier in 2008 CER had launched a ‘guarantee fund’ to which organisations and individuals could earmark a financial contribution that they pledged to make available within one week of an emergency situation identified by CER. The Centre Céramique of the municipality of Maastricht was the first organisation to pledge its support. Inspired by Dr. Box, two individuals promptly signed up in March as Torch Bearers and pledged personal contributions to the CER guarantee fund.
CER’s mission to rescue endangered cultural heritage appeals to international citizenship.
To identify important sites where quick action is essential in any part of the world, CER relies on the good will and prompt response of people who share the conviction that culture is a basic need and must be part of humanitarian aid. The same principle applies to financing CER actions. CER needs Torch Bearers, either individuals or organisations with financial means, prepared to commit to preserving cultural heritage as part of their responsibility as international citizens.
Should you wish to know more about becoming Torch Bearer you can contact Deborah Stolk d.stolk@princeclausfund.nl
Storage of the books of the looted National Library of Baghdad in April 2003. Copyright: UNESCO
CER provides emergency relief for cultural heritages that have been affected by man-made or natural disasters.
The Prince Claus Fund welcomes all donations for its CER program. Donations can be made, to the attention of CER/Prince Claus Fund in The Hague, to
Postbank Giro 2343
IBAN: NL87PSTB0000002343
BIC: PSTBNL21
Cultural Emergency Response
Prince Claus Fund
Herengracht 603
1017 CE Amsterdam
Tel. 31 (0)20 3449160
Fax 31 (0)20 3449166
E-mail cer@princeclausfund.nl
www.princeclausfund.nl
