Facing Change Together in Jordan

What a privilege to speak at the Facing Change Conference earlier this month in Jordan. As soon as I arrived, I realised it wasn’t a typical conference, it was more a gathering of approachable well-informed, inquisitive and dynamic professionals all passionately looking to share and develop practices for protecting and promoting cultural heritage. I immediately felt welcome, connected and keen to contribute something to a special atmosphere of exploration and education. After five days of events, visits, workshops and talks (programme), I left Jordan better informed, meaningfully connected, valued and inspired. A wonderful end to the year.

The INTO Conference hosted in Partnership with the British Council Cultural Protection Fund and Petra National Trust offered a unique opportunity to engage a diverse range of significant actors in the cultural heritage sector. A daunting opportunity at first, mindful of the people trying to find peace and stability after conflict. I felt the pressure to ensure I delivered my talk emphatically, to effectively articulate the role place can take within the peacebuilding process and to underline just how cultural heritage and its protection is a fundamental aspect of one's sense of post-conflict identity and place. I need not have worried, everyone I spoke to was fully receptive, interested and encouraging. Many had plenty of experience working and living in conflict zones, they understood and witnessed the impact and potential that cultural heritage represents, and others were engaged in wonderful, yet challenging projects designed to protect and promote cultural heritage in remarkable locations. I was in good company.

HRH Princess Dana of Jordan, Dame Fiona Reynolds, Catherine Leonard, Steve Stenning OBE, Hilary McGrady, Stephanie Grant, Alex Lambert, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic and Dan Snow set the scene for a rewarding multi-layered event attended by a beguiling range of people, from organisation leaders and trustees, influential decision-makers, senior governmental officials, project donors, project managers and administrators, academics, architects, artisans, fund managers and grantees, event staff, consultants and hotel staff (chefs, waiters, cleaners, taxi drivers, receptionists and the hardworking people that “fixed my room” every day, thank you!)

In the spirit of the event, I want to continue sharing and promoting the work focused on the protection and potential of cultural heritage:

It is always a pleasure to connect with the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) team, led by Stephanie Grant and comprising Daniel Head, Uma Bradshaw, Daniel Heath, Raechel Beardwood, Sarah Hughs, Farah Alhasan (Jordan), Susan Winter and Mona Habeb. In Jordan, they worked tirelessly with conference partners to ensure the event went well and that everyone got the most from the event. However, it’s when they are working day-to-day on CPF actions that their real impact is fully understood. They always appear unflustered, resourceful and effective, it is to their credit and those supporting them that the CPF has awarded £50m+, reaching 19 countries where they support 159 projects. The projects are incredible, you can find them (here).

In Petra, I spoke to Charlotte Hanson the head of DCMS’s International Cultural Heritage Protection. I gained valuable insight into funding goals and her passion for International Heritage Protection. The DCMS is a hugely important aspect of the UK’s role in protecting cultural heritage and ensuring culture plays a role in peacebuilding, security and stability (read this).

Whilst in Amman I met Alex Lambert British Council’s Country Director Jordan & Levant Cluster Lead. It was clear just how important the British Council’s extensive network of partnerships and projects (involving education, arts, and culture) was in the region. Also reassuring to hear of the British Council’s commitment to the Cultural Protection Fund and the growing links between the UK and Jordan. (British Council Jordan)

Turquoise Mountain’s Levant’s office/workshop/shop opened its doors to host the conference delegates for a meal and a tour of the facilities. Turquoise Mountain is an impressive organisation; it was only founded in 2006, yet it has made significant steps to revive cultural heritage in challenging places. The Regional director Richard Dwerryhouse and Falicity Cain have a wealth of knowledge and experience and were generous with their time and happy to share TM’s work as well as their ambitions to expand in the Middle East. (Take a look)

If you are still reading this short (well, it was supposed to be short :) conference reflection, you should spend a little more time checking out some of the other people I met.

Take a look at the work that Catherine Childs is doing, she is the Environmental Programs Manager of National Trust Cayman Islands and is working hard to mitigate the risk of climate change and developing attitudes towards cultural heritage on the Cayman Islands.

Perhaps, take some time to learn more about the World Monuments Fund and its remarkable work safeguarding and conserving architectural and cultural sites around the world. Emma Sweeney, Nathan Stroupe and John Darlington were at the conference, before meeting them I only really knew of WMF as a cultural actor with status and respect. I didn’t realise the extent of its global network, how many affiliated offices it has, the partners it works with and the types of projects it supports (take a look).

There are plenty of noteworthy actors and projects, here are only a few:

Meeting Bachaar Tarabay and Lynn Jabri from ICONEM in Paris, opened my eyes to the many ways the cultural sector has evolved, ICONEM is an innovative startup that specialises in the digitisation of endangered cultural heritage sites in 3D. A mindboggling activity that creates detailed models of cultural sites as they enrich a contemporary mode of cultural engagement. (ICONEM Projects)

Several projects and organisations were working in Iraq, (a place dear to my heart). The Project Director, Rahad Salim from Safina Projects is leading The Ark for Iraq project, he is involved in documenting and revitalising the endangered watercraft heritage of traditional boats in central and southern Iraq. A project I completely recognised after my time working with the Orang Suku Laut and being an early member of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association. (Coastal Rowing as a Catalyst for Social Cohesion).

I can't mention Iraq and cultural heritage without mentioning Ayoob Thanoon the Founder and President of the Mosul Heritage Foundation. The story behind this cultural ‘braveheart’ is compelling. Take some time to click on the link and share the work of the Mosul Heritage Foundation, its staff and its resilient city.

Talking of compelling stories, the path the Rempart union has taken is an inspiring story, volunteers work for a fairer, more united and more sustainable society. The size and scale of Rempart’s involvement in the cultural sector is staggering and leaves me wanting to get involved myself. I particularly appreciate their approach to Understand, Restore and Reuse. I have spent years advocating for the considered adaptive reuse of cultural sites and it reassures me that Rempart are engaged in the idea. Rempart’s Presidente Marie -Georges and Johanna O’Bryne the Delegate for International Affairs were generous with their time and I got an insight into heritage as a link between individuals to build a sustainable and united future, check out the Org's work it's truly impressive and dynamic with heritage at its core. I hope I’ll see Marie-George and Johanna again.

It was a great pleasure to reconnect with Alexander (Alex) Lamont Bishop the Executive Director at INTBAU (International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism) A global network dedicated to creating better places to live through traditional building, architecture, and urbanism. The multi-talented President of the international NGO Heritage for Peace Isber Sabrime and the charismatic Kashif Essa a Conservation Architect & digital documentation expert for cultural heritage sites based in Venice working with Wei'n - an international Engineering and Architectural firm specialising in integrated design with a focus on new works on ancient buildings. And make new connections with Michael and Helen Mallinson from Mallinson Architects and their impressive range of projects from the Cairo Children's Museum to Sudan’s Community Museums and much more. Paul Martin an Australian Artist, the enigmatic author Robeir Faris from Cairo Egypt, Theo Vos the director of Kara-Tunga Foundation and Kara-Tunga Arts & Tours and the wealth of knowledge that is Caroline Sandes the Project Director & heritage researcher specialising in cultural heritage in (post-)conflict situations not to mention the Director, of Living Mesopotamia CIC which was just recently awarded a CPF grant to document and preserve the Khan Musalla monument in Iraq.

There are a few projects I didn’t take note of and would like to know more about – the projects in Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan and a project recording tribal tattoos in Iraq are among those I hope to learn more about….

Finally, I have to say Petra was incredible. I have been lucky to have seen many cultural wonders and Petra is breathtaking and up there with the best of them. If I could, I would like to have spent weeks there exploring and meeting the everyday people whose lives have Petra at its core. I met a lady there (I regret to say I didn’t catch her name after three times of asking and was too embarrassed to ask again), she still lived in the caves around the site. Sitting in the sun with her was a moment I will hold special. I hope I meet her again.

For those interested in my slides here is a link to them – I have been asked to narrate them a little – I will give it a go when I have some time. Until then here they are (click)

I wish all of you reading this an effective new year of peacebuilding and cultural protection.

Frazer