Cultural Protection Fund - British Council

The Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) is a global initiative dedicated to safeguarding cultural heritage at risk due to conflict or climate change. Rather than acting as a traditional charity, the CPF operates as a strategic grant-maker and partner, investing in projects that treat heritage as a vital resource for social and economic recovery.

What is the Cultural Protection Fund?

At its core, the Cultural Protection Fund is a partnership between the British Council and the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It was established to protect cultural assets—ranging from physical landmarks to intangible traditions—in regions where they are most threatened.

The Fund’s mission is defined by three primary objectives:

• Heritage Protection: Providing the necessary resources to physically restore, document, or archive sites, monuments, and traditions that are in danger of being lost forever.
• Capacity Building: Investing in the "human" side of heritage. This involves training local communities and professionals in specialized skills—such as digital documentation, conservation techniques, and museum management—to ensure sustainable, long-term protection.
• Advocacy and Education: Raising global and local awareness about the value of cultural heritage as a tool for peacebuilding, identity, and community resilience.

Why It Matters

The CPF views heritage as a "living" entity. By protecting a historic site or a traditional craft, the Fund helps create jobs, supports local tourism, and provides a sense of continuity and pride for communities navigating periods of instability. It currently supports projects across 19 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, and South Asia.

The Partner Connection

For organizations like ours, the CPF serves as a bridge between international expertise and local knowledge. It provides a structured framework to turn heritage preservation into a catalyst for modern community development, such as our collaborative efforts to empower youth within cultural industries.