The British Council in Pakistan, in partnership with the UK Government Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), has launched its pilot funding round for the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF).
The pilot funding round has opened with a call for expressions of interest from organizations based in Pakistan that are working on projects related to heritage protection involving local communities and climate change. In this round, they are expected to award one project with a value of c.£500,000 and five projects with a value of c.£100,000, according to a press release issued here by the British High Commission on Thursday.
The Cultural Protection Fund is driven by the profound objective of cultivating sustainable opportunities for social and economic development. It accomplishes this by nurturing the capacity to foster, safeguard, and promote cultural heritage.
The initiative actively funds projects that ensure the safety of cultural heritage sites and objects while concurrently supporting efforts in recording, conserving, and restoring cultural treasures. Furthermore, it extends its reach to local communities by offering training and educational opportunities, thus enabling and empowering them for the long term to appreciate, protect, and derive benefits from their cultural heritage.
In alignment with the British Council’s ethos, the Cultural Protection Fund is dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, and facilitating educational and economic growth in conflict-affected regions.
Deputy Director British in Council Pakistan, Maarya Rehman, said: “The British Council shares the Fund’s vision of protecting and promoting cultural heritage. The Cultural Protection Fund stands as a symbol of hope, ensuring that heritage is not only safeguarded but also creates sustainable opportunities for economic and social development for future generations.
