Network of Regional Hubs

For emergency response to culture in crisis to succeed, local infrastructures need to be present and strong. Local actors can respond quickly and effectively when they are prepared and resourced.

We envision an international cultural emergency response in which local stakeholders have agency over the protection and development of their heritage. Therefore, we partner with local heritage rescue organisations around the world to decentralise emergency response activities by supporting the development and sustainability of regional capacities and infrastructures. Together, we are creating a network of regional coordination points for cultural emergency response which can mobilise in the event of crisis and support heritage stewards globally.

Decentralisation is the future of heritage rescue

We believe that decentralisation makes cultural emergency response faster, more locally driven, more inclusive, and better tailored to local needs. The CER Regional Hubs achieve this by developing regional mechanisms for emergency response, building networks of regional experts and institutions, and sharing knowledge, resources, and tools. They also engage with major international heritage stakeholders on a regional level in their efforts to enhance collaboration, cooperation, and coordination in international heritage protection. CER supports them by recognising them as regional leaders in this field, endorsing their mandates to protect heritage in crisis, and backing them up with funding, training and mentorship, network development, advocacy opportunities, and more.

The Regional Hubs are also part of the CER Regional Hub Network, which is a platform for active, ongoing collaboration, and sharing. We create opportunities for the Regional Hubs Network to share best practices, informational resources, and lessons learned from their operational experiences. We also mobilise the network to assist heritage stewards in crisis situations all over the world, creating a roundtable of experts who can offer resources and advice to their peers. The current network consists of Regional Hubs in Central America, the Levant, the Western Balkans, and the Caribbean.

What are Regional Hubs?

Regional Hubs are hosted by existing civil society organisations active in their national and regional heritage sectors. They are central actors within local ecosystems for coordinating, managing, and enhancing mechanisms for cultural emergency response. They operate in their base country (or countries), with a focus on regional reach, always with the full permission and consent of local governments, authorities, and communities. They have strong networks with key stakeholders and are well-connected with local communities. As such, they are highly aware of community needs and priorities, as well as important contextual information. At the same time, they are engaged with major international organisations as part of their effort to coordinate, engage with others, and diversify their partnerships.

Regional Hubs are deliberately established in regions that experience a higher frequency of or propensity for crisis situations. A Regional Hub operates as a centre for cultural emergency response in their region: they collaborate with CER and offer their expertise in scouting for and selecting projects and partners, coordinating cultural emergency response actions, and enhancing the wider cultural emergency response ecosystems in which they operate.

To realise this goal, we are looking for strong partnerships. If you want to know more or are interested in working with us, please reach out via info@culturalemergency.org.