“Interactive Heritage Map of Syria” to Receive Further Funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 2021

28.01.2021
Museum für Islamische Kunst

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has announced that it will continue to support the Museum für Islamische Kunst’s Syrian Heritage Archive in 2021. This online platform presents the work of various Syrian initiatives, including the innovative Interactive Heritage Map of Syria project, which documents and archives Syrian cultural heritage through a participatory approach.

Since July 2018, the Interactive Heritage Map of Syria has been documenting immaterial aspects of Syrian cultural heritage, made possible by a significant grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and brings the focus back onto the people who create the cultural heritage. The aim of the project is to present cultural forms of expression, oral forms of knowledge and personal memories from Syria in a holistic way in order to combine material and immaterial heritage. The new grant will allow the team to further maintain and develop this digital platform and build on the success of the past two years, in which the team was able to establish a thriving network of collaborators.

Support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

“We are pleased to be able to count on the ongoing support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation”, said Stefan Weber, Director of the Museum für Islamische Kunst. “The support is essential for transforming the digital platform of the Syrian Heritage Archive into a living platform of dialogue for the Syrian community and beyond, by offering a unique and innovative approach to the holistic preservation of both immaterial and material heritage that not only includes scholarly research but also the personal and collective memory of Syrians”.

For over five decades, the New York–based Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has supported higher educational institutions and artistic projects right around the world. The Foundation’s work is guided by the principles of equal opportunity and social justice, with the goal of forging a society in which creativity and ideas are able to flourish.

Syrian Heritage Archive

The Interactive Heritage Map of Syria is closely connected with other aspects of the Museum für Islamische Kunst’s Syrian Heritage Archive, which invites users and museum-goers to participate actively in the documentation and conservation of Syrian heritage through a range of outreach activities. The extensive databank of the Syrian Heritage Archive offers users the opportunity to learn more about Syrian culture and history and to share their own ideas on the topic. An interactive map also provides access to a range of geographical data on Syria’s cultural heritage.

For more information, please visit: www.syrian-heritage.org