Preserving the Past, Safeguarding the Future: Protecting Cultural Heritage at Risk in Gaza through restoration and community Engagement

Recanati e Restauro is honoured to be collaborating with CISS Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud and UCAS – University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza, on this important project supported by a generous grant from the British Council Cultural protection Fund.

This project started with a small cultural emergency grant from The Prince Claus Fund during the pandemic, and The Barakat Trust – and despite the challenges of Covid, our manuscripts conservation lab and training program was launched in April 2022.

We are excited to continue our collaborative work at the intersection of international standards and local realities and to be able to expand our previous manuscript conservation project and continue working with the community to best preserve Palestinian tangible and intangible heritage. 

Recanati e Restauro believe that the protection of heritage at risk is in the hands of the community to which it belongs, and it is our duty to support and facilitate the conservation of cultural heritage in Gaza.

About Gaza-Israel Conflict

When there is war, there is not only a devastating loss in life, but also of identity and culture. Though our works is in the conservation of documents- manuscripts, books, letters, texts – we know it is the communities in which the value of heritage truly exists. We are hoping for a resolution of the conflict in Palestine, and those innocent civilians, especially children, whose lives are at threat or being lost in the region. Our colleagues and friends in Gaza have been in the forefront of our minds, and we have been praying for the safety of them, their families, and their loved ones.