Cultural Emergency Response
Cultural Emergency Response (CER) provides 'first aid' to cultural heritage threatened, damaged or destroyed by conflict or disaster.
CER acts as a ‘cultural ambulance’ and provides quick financial support to local actors to stabilize the situation, prevent further damage, and implement basic repairs to save cultural heritage under threat. Relying on its international network for the identification of cultural emergencies, CER seeks to implement its cultural relief actions in direct cooperation with local partners in the affected communities.
CER aims to create a strong and inclusive heritage protection sector and focuses on strengthening local capacities to protect and respond in emergencies. Besides supporting and coordinating first aid initiatives, CER trains and links local heritage stewards in disaster prevention, protection and rescue, establishing regional hubs for heritage expertise, and advocating for the importance of protecting heritage in crisis situations. To do so, CER works closely with like-minded organisations.
Download The First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis Handbook here.
CER was established in 2015 by the Queen Mathilde Cultural Fund. As of 2022, it will continue as an independent organisation to grow its efforts for the protection of heritage under threat. The stewardship of cultural heritage remains important to the Queen Mathilde Cultural Fund and is recognised through its Awards.
