The Prince Claus Fund is shocked by the disaster that struck Haiti. Directly after the heavy earthquake on 12 January the Fund contacted its partners in Haiti. The Fund is currently collaborating with one of these local partners, Fondation AfricAmerica, and with the international Blue Shield network, to identify the damages to cultural heritage and conservation needs and priorities as soon as the situation will allow it. Restoration of the places that give meaning to the lives of Haitians can provide hope and consolation and contribute to restoring human dignity. The Prince Claus Fund believes that culture and therefore cultural heritage, apart from food, shelter and medical care is a basic need.
In 2009, through its Cultural Emergency Response (CER) programme, the Prince Claus Fund restored four vodou sanctuaries in Noailles/Croix-des-Bouquets and their valuable wall-paintings in collaboration with the Fondation AfricAmerica. These sanctuaries had been severely damaged in the series of four hurricanes that swept through Haiti in Summer 2008, and are located close to the epicentre of the earthquake of 12 January. It is not presently known whether the restored wall-paintings have resisted the earthquake. The Cultural Emergency Response programme awaits further information from Fondation AfricAmerica, the local partner, which has not yet been able to reach the area.
CER is extremely busy with mobilising colleagues, in Haiti as well as internationally, in order to assemble as much information as possible about the damages to cultural heritage and conservation needs and priorities. CER commits its support to friends, partners and all stakeholders in the field of cultural heritage for the safeguarding and restoration of the unique and diverse cultural heritage that enriches the country.
Haitian Prince Claus Laureates unharmed
The two Haitian Prince Claus Laureates, choreographer Jeanguy Saintus and theatre maker Frankétienne are despite the circumstances doing and have fortunately not been harmed.
Choreographer Jeanguy Saintus (1964) is almost daily keeping the Prince Claus Fund informed on the situation in his country: “I have not been hurt physically, but the heart of Haiti bleeds. We are all mourning, for our sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, brothers and sisters and friends. I have no more tears”. At this point it is clear that none of the dancers of the Compagnie Ayikodans was hurt. Saintus founded Ayikodans more than 20 years ago. With his work he has put important subjects on the map like AIDS, the long road to freedom and the tension between modern society and vodou rituals. Jeanguy Saintus received a Prince Claus Award in 2008.
Frankétienne, at the time of the earthquake, was busy with the rehearsals of his new theatre play, that strangely enough focuses on an earthquake on Haiti. Frankétienne (1936) is writer and theatre maker and plays an important role in the cultural history of Haiti as an author of the first novel written in Haitian Creole. For his work he was granted a 2006 Prince Claus Award.
Prince Claus Fund supports the reconstruction of architectural heritage in Gaza and celebrates the reopening of the Center for Architectural Heritage that took place on 23 November 2009.
The recent conflict in the Gaza Strip had a devastating impact on cultural heritage. The exceptionally rich heritage testifies to the fact that Gaza has been a vibrant cultural crossroads in the region since the dawn of time. All major civilisations have left their mark in the form of numerous monuments and archaeological sites, as well as many historic buildings that form part of the everyday living environment of the communities. Many of these were damaged or totally destroyed. read more
Through its Cultural Emergency Response (CER) programme, the Prince Claus Fund immediately 5000 Euro available for the Indonesian Heritage Trust to evaluate the damages to heritage and identify the conservation needs and priorities following the tragic earthquake that struck West Sumatra on 30 September.
read more
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
CER has provided aid for cultural heritage in emergency situations in China, Lesotho Myamar and lots more countries. read more
CER is preparing a publication about cultural emergency relief to commemorate its conference “Culture is a Basic Need; Responding to Cultural Emergencies”, which was held in The Hague on 25 & 26 September 2006. read more
On 11 September, at the Gemak Centre for Art and Political Debate, the Prince Claus Fund and its Cultural Emergency Response (CER) programme organized the public discussion “Resisting Urbicide: Restoring: Palestinian heritage” in cooperation with Vrije Academie Den Haag and the Gemeentemuseum.
Urbicide is a term which stands for the destruction of the urban identity, a process which often happens intentionally during times of conflict. In post-war reconstruction, the restoration of cultural heritage is of enormous interest for repairing the values and sense of identity of people living in the affected areas. This lies at the core of what the Cultural Emergency Response Programme of the Prince Claus Fund seeks to achieve by providing quick and effective financial support to cultural heritage damaged or destroyed by man-made or natural disasters.
The destruction of urban identity was central to the discussion with the Palestinian architect Dr Nurhan Abudjidi. In 2007 Dr Abudjidi presented her doctoral dissertation on urbicide and the destruction of urban identity in Palestine. She now lectures at the Free University of Brussels and specializes in Palestinian cultural heritage, urban warfare and collective memory. read more
On 7 March 2008, the Prince Claus Fund presented its Cultural Emergency Response program at the European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht. Cultural Emergency Response provides global “first aid' for cultural heritage that have been damaged or destroyed by man-made or natural disasters. The program consisted of a presentation by H.R.H. Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, Honorary Chairman of the Prince Claus Fund. Louk de la Rive Box, Rector at the Institute of Social Studies will talk about CER and Omara Khan Massoudi, the Director of the National Museum in Kabul and a 2004 Prince Claus Laureate, told the story of rescuing the Museum's collection during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. www.tefaf.com
Read the speech that HRH Prince Constantijn gave at the presentation of CER at TEFAF
As part of the “Hidden Afghanistan” exhibition at Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk, the Prince Claus Fund and CER organised a presentation and discussion led by Ole Bouman, the Director of the Netherlands Architecture Institute. The subject of this event was the protection of built heritage in Afghanistan, both during and after the Taliban regime. It also focused on the relationship between power and the wilful destruction of culture, an example being the Taliban’s demolition of the Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001. With CER’s support, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Kabul is restoring a mosque and a synagogue in the city of Herat, Afghanistan. read more
This mosque was severely damaged by the earthquake that struck Northern Morocco on 24 February 2004. To save it, CER provided immediate emergency aid. The Mestassa mosque’s continued restoration has been made possible through the support of the Dutch-based Morocco Fund. read more
On 31 January 2007, the Dutch Postcode Lottery presented a cheque for € 200,000 to the Prince Claus Fund’s Cultural Emergency Response (CER) program.
www.postcodeloterij.nl
For questions and further information concerning either the conference or the Cultural Emergency Response program, please contact cer@princeclausfund.nl
Jeanguy Saintus points at where the walls of his dance school cracked due to the earthquake on Haiti
The cracked walls from the outside of dance school Ayikodans in Haiti
A Sanctuary in the municipality Noailles in Haiti where CER contributed to restorations after hurricanes struck the country in 2008.
Damage in Nablus, CER supported restoration
HRH Prince Constantijn and Omara Khan Massoudi at the TEFAF on 7 March 2008 Photo: Capital Photos
Omara Khan Massoudi at the TEFAF. Photo: Capital Photos
A CER action in Herat, Afghanistan: The stabilisation of the Yu Aw synagogue. Copyright: Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Afghanistan
CER provides emergency relief for cultural heritages that have been affected by man-made or natural disasters.
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
