For over a decade, the Culture in Crisis programme has worked to bring together those with a shared interest in heritage preservation, developing an important forum for sharing information, supporting collective action and raising public awareness. From its founding, the programme’s mission has been to help to protect the world's cultural heritage and support communities that suffer cultural loss, whether through Conflict, Criminal Acts or the impacts of the Climate Crisis. 

Through our collective efforts, Culture in Crisis has generated a thriving public programme, with an international reputation, comprising annual international conferences as well as bi-monthly public lectures, seminars and symposiums (in person and online). Its audience reaches around the globe, and the programme draws on insights and expertise from this ever-growing network. 

In 2019 the programme launched an ambitious digital project, to bring together the world’s heritage preservation projects onto a freely accessible database, the Culture in Crisis Portal. This is now the world’s largest database of heritage preservation activities, with over 1,200 projects connecting over 600 organisations, funders and practitioners, welcoming over 35,000 users from 182 countries each year. 

Following a decade of success, from 1 February 2026, the management of the Culture in Crisis programme has transferred from the V&A to the Cultural Protection Fund, led by the British Council in partnership with the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport. 

In this new phase, whilst remaining true to its founding mission and principles, the Culture in Crisis Programme will seek to expand its work and increase its engagement, globally.  

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Email: cultureincrisis@britishcouncil.org

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