Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 14, 2003
Iraq Cultural Heritage UpdateAn interagency working group has been formed to assist in the rebuilding of the cultural heritage infrastructure in Iraq. The working group will provide educational opportunities, as identified by the Iraqis, in fields such as conservation, museum management, library science, archaeology and cultural preservation; and will help reconstitute their research capability and facilitate scholarly access to Iraq’s rich heritage. The Department of State is coordinating this interagency response to assist Iraq in preserving its cultural heritage and will help channel donations from private sources wishing to support this effort.
U.S. Federal Government agency actions include:
- The Department of State has set aside $2 million toward efforts to preserve Iraq’s cultural heritage. The Department of State has also received a donation up to $1 million from the Packard Humanities Institute to assist with cultural heritage preservation in Iraq. The Department, in cooperation with the Institute, is in the process of providing computers, photographic equipment and related supplies to the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad so that professional staff can carry out their day-to-day responsibilities in museum curatorship and administration.
- In addition, the Department of State has given a grant to the International Council of Museums to develop the “Red List of Iraqi Antiquities at Risk,” an online reference to the types of Iraqi cultural property that may be illicitly traded. The Department has also created its own searchable image database of the types of objects looted from museums and other locations in Iraq. These two initiatives are in support of law enforcement efforts. At the appropriate time, the Department will establish a U.S. overseas research center in Baghdad and launch a special institute to train Iraqi graduate students for museum and library careers. Additionally, there are plans to undertake cultural preservation and museum administration exchange programs to enable Iraqis to engage with American counterparts in ways to rebuild Iraq’s cultural heritage infrastructure.
- The National Endowment for the Humanities is announcing “Recovering
Iraq’s Past,” an initiative that will award up to $500,000 for projects that document, preserve, and revitalize Iraq’s cultural heritage. “Recovering Iraq’s Past” aims to restore access to Iraq’s museums and library collections, in order to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of Iraq as the birthplace of civilization.
- The U.S. Agency for International Development will develop a prioritized list of buildings and equipment to be reconstituted of which museum and libraries will be candidates; initiate a program to re-invigorate and modernize Iraq’s higher education institutions; and will explore options of cultural-themed tourism as a component of the future Iraq economy. The economic governance program will explore a range of business opportunities, sectors of investment, etc., which could include cultural tourism -- that program is currently being competed with proposals under review
- The National Science Foundation is ready to provide awards and convene groups of experts geared towards the identification, recovery and preservation and conservation of scientifically relevant archaeological and cultural heritage artifacts and the advancement of knowledge in relevant fields.
- The Library of Congress will spearhead the work to be done with libraries by helping to reconstitute pre-war Iraqi collections; assist Iraqi librarians as they expand and modernize their library system; and provide training opportunities for Iraqi librarians.
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services will support American librarians and museum professionals in partnership with their Iraqi counterparts to create and share digital content and develop educational resources.
- The National Endowment for the Arts will partner with other federal agencies, American institutions and their Iraqi counterparts to work toward the restoration of Iraq’s artistic legacy including providing leadership and funding for the documentation, preservation and exhibition of works of art.
The Coalition Provisional Authority is working with Iraqi experts to protect and restore libraries, museums, and important cultural sites. As specific needs are identified, they are communicated to donor countries and organizations.
Released on July 14, 2003
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